JENNIFER Rosales did it, showing the world just what the Filipino athlete is capable of doing.
Now, Manny Pacquiao wants to do just the same.
The reigning Ring Magazine featherweight King said Rosales’ recent victory at the SBS Open in the LPGA Tour in Hawaii inspired him to work doubly hard in going after Erik “El Terible” Morales’ scalp in their March 19 face-off.
“Gagawin ko lahat para manalo at ipakita (I’ll do everything to win and show) how great the Filipino can be,” said Pacquiao via text message yesterday.
The flamboyant 26-year-old Rosales, the Filipino golfing wunderkind, put away amateur Michelle Wie’s challenge and finished at 8-under-par 208 to capture the $1-million SBS Open by two strokes for her second career LPGA Tour victory in Kahuku, Hawaii.
Coincidentally, Pacquiao and Rosales were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association last January.
As if to prove he is really inspired, Pacquiao stepped up his training last Saturday, sparred his first 12-rounder against different fighters at the Wild Card Gym.
The people’s champ sparred with Jose Sta. Cruz, an unbeaten prospect from Oxnard, California, then traded leathers with Raymund Beltran and Justin Juuko.
“He is in superman form,” according to trainer Buboy Fernandez.
This week, trainer Freddie Roach expects former Pacquiao foe Nedal Hussein and Mexican Orlando Salido to arrive and add variety to Pacquiao’s sparmates.
The odds continue to favor Pacquiao, but they are expected to even up at fight night.
