Ask IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy who his favorite fighter is and he won’t hesitate to answer:
Manny Pacquiao.
Ask top-ranked heavyweight contender James Toney which fighter he believes has the best chance to become a legend and he doesn’t even wait until the question is finished:
Manny Pacquiao.
Clearly, other boxers love to watch Pacquiao fight — featherweight contender Rocky Juarez is so impressed that he’s flying in to be ringside for Pacquiao’s fight Saturday against Erik Morales at the MGM Grand Garden.
“It’s amazing how many guys say they want to see him and that they look up to him.,” said Pacquiao’s new manager, Shelly Finkel.
Saturday’s fight will be contested at super featherweight, but Pacquiao began his career in 1995 as a junior flyweight. That’s a leap of six divisions and 22 pounds, a rarity at the lighter weights.
Even more unusual, Pacquiao appears to punch just as hard as a 130-pounder as he did when he was essentially a 106-pound version of Mike Tyson. Though most fighters lose punching power as they climb in weight, Pacquiao has been a knockout puncher at every class.
“Even someone like Roberto (Duran), at lightweight he was an unbelievable puncher,” said cutman Miguel Diaz, who will be in Morales’ corner Saturday. “But as he went up, he didn’t punch nearly as well. But this kid, you have to give him credit, he has brought that punch with him.”
Toney will walk Pacquiao to the ring Saturday, after he escorted Toney to the ring before a September fight against Rydell Booker.
Pacquiao and Toney train under Freddie Roach and work out at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood, Calif. Toney said he became a fan of Pacquiao as he watched him spar and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“I looked over and every time I would see this little guy knocking guys on their ass, one after the other,” Toney said. “I said, `Who’s this dynamo?’ I love his style. He’s so aggressive, but he’s also so smart. And he’s like me because he’s fearless. Anybody, any time, anywhere.”
Lacy came to Las Vegas from his St. Petersburg, Fla., home so he could meet Pacquiao and root him on Saturday. Lacy said he’s a big fan of Pacquiao’s style.
“I love the way he fights,” said Lacy, who predicts Pacquiao will win by knockout. “I like the fact he’s throwing punches before he gets to an opponent and then he turns on the power when he gets to the guy. I find that very, very overwhelming.
“If you’re a boxing fan and you watch this guy once, I don’t see how you can’t fall in love with him. He’s awesome.”
