Let’s cycle back to January 1990.
Mike Tyson, then the dominant heavyweight champion of the world, was set to take on little-known Buster Douglas on February 10 in Tokyo.
Sparring partner Greg Page accompanied the champ to Japan and promoter Don King would subsequently showcase Tyson in an open workout which included a sparring session with Page. In that session, we saw a slower, seemingly disinterested Tyson who ate some leather from Page and was clearly being outboxed.
And then… BANG!
Tyson ran into a loaded right hand, was momentarily staggered and then fell to the canvas. Tyson rose quickly but the session was halted at that moment.
Suddenly, Mike’s workouts were closed to the public.
The knockdown garnered mainstream headlines and people started to wonder if that seemingly laxed version of Tyson could beat a top guy like Evander Holyfield or Razor Ruddock. Of course, no one gave Douglas a chance – even against an unfocused Tyson.
… But it happened. Tyson would be beaten-up and knocked out by Douglas weeks later. The former, of course, blamed his partying ways and insisted he was ill-prepared to face Douglas.
Enter Manny Pacquiao.
Five and one half weeks shy of his title defense against heavy underdog Jeff Horn, are we, now, getting a glimpse into what might happen in that bout?
Trainer Freddie Roach, usually PacMan’s biggest cheerleader, has concerns.
?We are far behind. Those five rounds of sparring were the worst I have seen him spar,? said Roach to the Manila Times.
?Overall, the second day of sparring was not great I didn?t expect him to be good. But I think he?s getting there.”
?Manny has not done any knockout for a long time. He got to show here in the sparring that he wants to knock him down. So, I don?t know, I cannot predict that anymore.”
Can Manny manage his senatorial duties and fight on the elite level?
