AS SOON as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent–Hector Velazquez–was announced in the boxing website days ago, many Filipino fans immediately branded him as patsy and wasted no time in belittling him through forums in the Internet.
They might have spoken too soon.
Velazquez, of Tijuana, Mexico, proved he has what it takes to fight the Filipino pug when he scored a fifth round TKO win over Trinidad Mendoza Saturday in Chicago.
Velazquez fashioned out the victory with a variety of shots, dropping Mendoza in the fourth round with a right hook to the ribcage and finally stopping him in the fifth with a series of blows to the face.
The win improved Velazquez’s record to 42-10 with 31 KOs, a credential that should worry the Pacquiao camp.
Pacquiao, who hails from Gen. Santos City, is coming off a loss to Mexican Erik Morales and needs a victory over Velazquez to raise his stock once more.
Pacquiao and Velazquez square off on September 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
