Is Manny Pacquiao in for a dirty fight against Mexican Hector Velasquez?
International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-featherweight (130 pounds) king Robbie Peden, a one-time Velasquez opponent, thinks so.
“He (Velazquez) is a very dirty fighter and will hit Manny low, behind the head, on the break and after the bell,” Velasquez was recently quoted by RingTalk.com.
“He (Velasquez) also doesn’t fight a fast fight, so he tries to lure you into his tempo. He is kind of an opportunist and will try to take advantage if Manny loses concentration,” said the Australian champion, who has firsthand knowledge of Velasquez’s tactics, having fought Velasquez in a rough-and-tumble fight three years ago in the US.
Double-header
Peden won via technical decision after the fight was stopped due to a nasty, head butt-inflicted cut over Velasquez’s eye, and had to go to the scorecards.
Peden, who once publicly challenged Pacquiao and is still considered a possible Pacquiao foe in the future, is set to fight the Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera on Sept. 17.
Pacquiao’s date with Velasquez (42-10-2, 31 KOs) is slated to happen in a blockbuster Top Rank card at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Sept. 10. HBO will televise the double-main event card, which also features Mexican megastar Erik Morales taking on former Olympian Zahir Raheem.
The last time Pacquiao fought a roughhouser was against Dominican villain Agapito Sanchez in 2001.
Fast fighter
In that foul-infested fight, Sanchez repeatedly hit Pacquiao with low blows, elbows and even purposely kneed Pacquiao’s thigh.
A battered, bloodied Pacquiao won via a sixth-round technical decision after a nasty cut above his eye forced the fight to be stopped.
Peden, however, thinks Pacquiao remains the favorite over Velasquez.
“Hector is pretty slow, which will be an advantage for Manny because Manny is very quick,” said Peden, who added that Pacquiao will have an easy time hitting Velasquez.
“He is fairly tough but the straight shots of Pacquiao will get Hector every time. I think his chin is not bad, but I didn’t have too many problems hitting it.”
