Manny Pacquiao might burn himself out cramming about 100 rounds of sparring in four weeks of training for his Sept. 10 fight against Hector Velazquez of Mexico at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
That’s the word of caution from former World Boxing Council (WBC) secretary-general Rudy Salud who yesterday said Pacquiao must be in tip-top shape to beat Velazquez and seal a rematch with Erik Morales early next year.
Pacquiao started training late for Velazquez and reportedly plans to log at least 100 rounds of sparring since reporting for duty at the Wild Card Gym last Aug. 8. That means an average of some 10 rounds each sparring day for a month.
In the past, trainer Freddie Roach rotated three to four sparmates at a rate of two to four rounds apiece to test Pacquiao’s stamina and ability to adapt. But lately, not too many sparmates relish getting beaten up for $500 a week. Only International Boxing Federation superbantamweight champion Israel Vasquez has dared to spar with Pacquiao on a regular basis.
Salud likened Pacquiao to WBC featherweight champion In Jin Chi of South Korea in that both hard-hitting sluggers tend to postpone training for tune-ups until the last minute but prepare long and hard for tough opponents.
However, Salud said once Pacquiao and Chi are in the gym, they work out feverishly.
Salud said he hasn’t seen Velazquez in action but Pacquiao’s former business manager Rod Nazario told him the Mexican likes to bob and weave and is a vicious body puncher.
Velazquez’ strategy could be to stay away from Pacquiao in the early rounds, frustrate and tire him out before going for the kill in the late going. If Pacquiao is burned out, he’ll lose his legs by the middle rounds.
Salud said Pacquiao also crammed in training for Juan Manuel Marquez last year and there were serious repercussions evident in the fight. For one, Pacquiao hurt his left hand as early as the second round, probably as a result of wear and tear from sparring too many rounds within a short period. For another, he blistered his left big toe — perhaps, not because of thin socks, but because he ran too many miles in cramming to build up stamina.
Velazquez could be a dangerous opponent if Pacquiao is not in tip-top condition, said Salud. What will work to Pacquiao’s advantage are his big heart, his devastating power and his ability to take a punch.
“Some fighters begin to fight cautiously or defensively after they’ve been knocked out,” said Salud. “Not Pacquiao. He’s not afraid to mix it up. Against Marquez and Morales, he took some hard shots but was never in danger of going down.”
Although no title will be at stake in the Pacquiao-Velazquez fight, it is scheduled for 12 rounds. Morales takes on Zahir Raheem in another 12-round bout on the card billed “Double Trouble.”
A huge Filipino crowd is expected for Bob Arum’s promotion. Two other Filipinos are in the undercard. Brian Viloria, born in Hawaii to Filipino parents, meets WBC lightflyweight champion Eric Ortiz in a 12-round title fight and bantamweight prospect Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista of Bohol tangles with Felix Murillo of Colombia in an eight-rounder.
