HOLLYWOOD, California ? Remember Cornelius Boza-Edwards? He?s that London-based Ugandan who surrendered the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight title to Filipino southpaw Rolando Navarrete in August 1981 in Viareggio, Italy.
Boza-Edwards dropped by the Wild Card Boxing Club on Friday and bared his thoughts on Manny Pacquiao?s upcoming bout with Erik Morales in Las Vegas.
“Manny Pacquiao?s speed and accuracy is phenomenal. He is quicker than Morales and I say Pacquiao is the favorite in this fight,” said Boza-Edwards, who was knocked out by Navarrete in the fifth round in a shocking upset.
“I would tell Erik Morales to run instead of trade punches with Pacquiao. But the problem is Morales likes to get into a war.”
Boza-Edwards, who now trains boxers in Las Vegas, revealed that he currently handles a ferocious female bantamweight named Elena “Baby Doll” Reid, whose mother is Filipino.
“She hits hard and is a southpaw, too,” said Boza-Edwards of the 22-year-old Reid.
When told about the condition of his former tormentor, Boza-Edwards expressed sadness over Navarrete?s current state.
“I have heard a lot of disturbing things about him and it?s sad,” he said.
Navarrete, who figured in an explosive round?robin involving Boza-Edwards, Bobby Chacon and Rafael “Bazooka” Limon in the 1980s, lives in extreme poverty back in General Santos City.
Meanwhile, a long line of luxury vehicles beefed up by a BMW 5 Series, Hummer, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer and a Lincoln Navigator with Manny Pacquiao on board departs for Las Vegas on Monday afternoon.
“It?s going to be like a parade because of the long line that will originate from the Wild Card Boxing Club,” said a Team Pacquiao insider after attending another training session of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is expected to leave Los Angeles shortly after his last sparring session and should be in Las Vegas by sundown where a red carpet welcome awaits him and his bloated entourage at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, site of his March 19 face-off with Erik Morales.
Morales is flying in straight from Mexico City on a private jet on Tuesday. He trained for close to two months in the mountains of Otomi just outside Mexico City.
On Wednesday, Morales and Pacquiao will face the press and on Friday, the official weigh?in will be held.
