LOS ANGELES — Mexican Hector Velazquez said he is going to shock the boxing world come Sept. 10 at the Staples Center and this early he wants the Filipino people to forgive him for the beating he will inflict on Manny Pacquiao.
“I want the Filipino people to understand what I am going to do when I fight Manny Pacquiao next month. I want them to forgive me because I will beat their hero,” Velazquez, 30, through an interpreter, said after gracing Thursday afternoon’s press conference at Max’s of Manila in Glendale.
Nicknamed “El Arillero,” Velazquez, a huge underdog going into the scheduled 12-rounder being put up by Top Rank, has already been training the past three weeks at the Chetos Gym in downtown Tijuana,Mexico.
In contrast, Pacquiao only planed in from Manila over the weekend and just had his first sparring session against Israel Vazquez of Mexico before attending the press conference.
Pacquiao and Vazquez sparred for fourrounds under the supervision of conditioning coach Justin Fortune in place of Freddie Roach, who attended to personal matters in Canada.
Velazquez, armed with a 42-10-2 win-loss-draw card with 31 knockouts, said he isn’t intimidated by the reputation of Pacquiao and philosophized that they both have two hands and are almost of the same size.
“I have full confidence in my ability,” said Velazquez, who is fresh from a spectacular sixth-round stoppage of Trinidad Mendoza in Chicago.
Pacquiao wore a toothy smile in the entirety of the 60-minute session as camera bulbs kept flashing when promoter Bob Arum handed over the microphone to him. He spoke in Pilipino, English and little Spanish to the delight of the pro-Filipino crowd, who turned the event into a fans’ day.
There were those who asked for autographs, posed for pictures and undemanding individuals such as physical therapist Leo Robles, who simply wanted to take a close look at the man given the task of taking the sting out of a fearsome foe.
“I have heard so much about him and it’s high-time for me to get a glimpse of our hero,” said Robles, who dined at the restaurant with wife Katherine, two-year-old daughter Lia and baby-sitter Dora.
Velazquez, who is unheard of back in Pacquiao’s native Philippines, believes he can get the job done and derail the plans of Pacquiao earning a rematch with Erik Morales in January next year.
“This is going to be a rare opportunity and I will try my best to make the most out of it,” added Velazquez.
Pacquiao, 26, said the 80 million Filipinos need not worry.
“I will not let you down,” said Pacquiao. “I will do everything to win this fight so we can look forward to that rematch with Erik Morales. I want to prove to everyone that had it not been for the cut,I would have won against Morales.”
Pacquiao, who sports a 39-3-2 ledger with 31 knockouts, singled out President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who expressed her full support and prayer when they met at Malaca?ang two weeks ago.
“The President is behind me all the way and I will respond by coming up with an impressive victory (against Velazquez).”
Also appearing in the presscon was Brian Viloria, a Filipino-American.
