Manny Pacquiao and Hector Velazquez are about even when pitted against each other head-to-head.
Booked to face each other on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Pacquiao, 26, and Velazquez, 30, are almost of the same height with the Mexican enjoying just a one-inch advantage. Their wingspan are identical at 67 inches and the two are seasoned in terms of experience against world-class opposition.
Pacquiao sports a 39-3-2 win-loss-draw card with 31 knockouts, while Velazquez parades a 42-10-2 (and one No Contest) ledger with 31 wins inside the distance.
Pacquiao has fought a total of 211 rounds, including 45 in world title fights and has a knockout percentage of 68 percent.
Velazquez, originally from the town of Nayarit but who now resides in Tijuana, has fought 265 rounds and boasts of a knockout percentage of 56 percent.
Although he hasn’t figured in a world championship fight, Velazquez, has traded blows against marquee names of the featherweight division, including former Kevin Kelley, Robbie Peden (currently the IBF super-feather titlist), Guty Espadas Jr. Carlos Rios, Rocky Juarez, Marcos Licona, Raul Perez and Pacquiao’s chief sparmate Israel Vazquez.
Velazquez is the heavy underdog against Pacquiao, but the rugged Velazquez believes he can get the job done as he has been training hard since the third week of July following his sensational sixth-round knockout win over Trinidad Mendoza in Chicago, Illinois.
Tickets for the Pacquiao-Velazquez showdown are priced at $300, $20, $100, $50 and $25.
Presented by Top Rank, Erik Morales is headlining the slugfest as he faces Zahir Raheem in another scheduled 12-rounder.
