HOLLYWOOD — One spar-mate thinks Manny Pacquiao?s current opponent doesn?t stand a chance against the Filipino ring sensation. Another one will get a chance to measure the Pacman?s future foe.
Mexican Juanito Garcia, an unbeaten super featherweight, believes that if the Filipino ring superstar?s showdown with countryman Juan Manuel Marquez ends in a knockout, it?s Pacquiao who would be left standing.
And Garcia, a 21-year-old rising star from Phoenix, Arizona, should know. He has sparred with Pacquiao for more than 20 rounds and has felt the impact of his punches.
?He (Pacquiao) is strong, fast and quick on his feet,? said Garcia, winner of his first 14 pro fights with five knockouts. ?His punches are so fast you can hardly see them coming. And it?s the punch that you don?t see that?s going to knock you out.?
According to the 5-foot-8 Garcia, he can?t figure out how Marquez can solve Pacquiao?s incessant punching and non-stop pressure.
?Pacquiao is very smart with his fighting,? said Garcia. ?He knows what he is doing.?
Though he admitted being paid a hefty amount to simulate Marquez?s ring movements, Garcia said the things he learned from Pacquiao are priceless.
?I learned a lot from Pacquiao,? said Garcia, who boasts of more than 100 amateur fights. ?His attitude, his dedication, the training I got will definitely help me become a better boxer.?
Enjoying his stint with Team Pacquiao, Garcia said he?d come to the Philippines if he gets an invitation from Pacquiao.
?I?ve heard many good things about the country and I?d like to train with Manny again,? said Garcia. ?He?s very good.?
In a keenly waited appearance during the Pacquiao-Marquez II undercard, World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion David Diaz tangles with Mexican Ramon Montano.
Pacquiao should be an eager watcher of that match. Montano is one of Pacquiao?s spar-mates while Diaz is penciled as Pacquiao?s next foe.
Diaz has been unbeaten in the last three years and totes a 33-1-1 record with 17 KOs.
He defended his title against three-time division champion and Pacquiao victim Erik Morales last year.
Though Montano is a light hitter with only one knockout to show in 15 victories and four losses, he?s on the rise with a 12-win streak.
Mexican Steven Luevano stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight crown against Thai Terdsak Jandaeng in the chief support of ?Unfinished Business? at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Luevano, from La Puente, Calif., won the title last July when he knocked out the erstwhile unbeaten Nicky Cook (27-1, 15 KOs) in the 11th round of their London showdown and defended it against Antonio Davis last October.
Also appearing in the fight card is Filipino Diosdado Gabi, who?ll be challenging Abner Mares for the North America Boxing Organization (NABO) bantamweight championship.
