LOS ANGELES-His heart and soul is pure Mexican but IBF super-bantamweight champion Israel “Magnifico” Vasquez thinks Filipino Manny Pacquiao has what it takes to win over his countryman Erik Morales in their upcoming fight on March 19.
Pacquiao sparred for eight more rounds Tuesday and completely dominated Raymundo “Sugar” Beltran for five rounds before reuniting with his former chief sparring partner Vasquez for another three.
Oozing with pizzazz atop the ring, Pacquiao was close to being untouchable, hitting almost at will and stopping a bit when Beltran’s legs wobbled as a result of power punches delivered in staccato.
Pacquiao paused two times in the second round as Beltran’s head got tangled up and under the top rope, almost getting thrown out of the ring, as he tried in vain to dodge a barrage of solid punches.
In the fourth, the General Santos bomber tied up the Mexican in his own corner. In the fifth, Beltran’s head was again out of the ropes after a hail of punches rained down on him even as he got hit by another left straight that sent him reeling. If not for the ropes and a little mercy from Pacquiao, Beltran should have gone down flat on his back.
“I am Mexican but I think Manny will win,” said both Beltran and Vasquez in separate interviews.
“I have never experienced getting hit this bad and that strong but it is an honor fighting Manny because I learn a lot from him. It makes me a better boxer,” said Beltran.
For Vasquez, it was a different Pacquiao the last time they sparred two years ago when the Pacman prepared for his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao even raised his arms, covered his head peek-a-boo style, and exposed his ribcage for Vasquez to deliver five powerful body shots that didn’t seem to make a dent on the Filipino.
“He is now faster and stronger,” said the super-bantam champion Vasquez, who captured Pacquiao’s belt after the latter vacated his title. Pacquiao decided to campaign in the more lucrative featherweight division where he eventually became the “People’s Champion” after dethroning Barrera in a monumental one-sided shocker to many fight fans.
Outside the ring, Pacquiao and Vasquez have forged mutual respect and admiration. “Manny is my friend but aside from that, I know he has what it takes to win against Morales.”
“Manny will win, I don’t know, probably by knockout. Morales is taller and bigger and that could spell the difference, too,” added Vasquez.
Pacquiao has now completed 44 rounds of sparring and said that he is feeling good, trying to get in the best shape of his life against the three-time, three-division former world champion Morales.
