MANNY Pacquiao turned out to be a lucky charm for the Los Angeles Angels. Wearing a Los Angeles jersey and an Angel cap, Pacquiao came to the mound Friday to make the ceremonial throw in the Angels-Oakland A’s game at the Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California.
It proved to be more than just a promotional gimmick of Pacquiao’s coming bout with Hector Velazquez of Mexico, the flick worked wonders for the Angels.
The Angels went on to defeat the A’s, 3-0, to move into a tie with Oakland for the lead in the AL West.
Now, it’s Pacquiao’s turn to hope to get something positive for siding with the Angels, or at least something favorable when he faces Velazquez in a 12-round super featherweight clash on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
As far as Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s American trainer, is concerned, the Pacman is in tip-top shape and ready to do battle.
Roach said all Pacquiao needs to do is to dish out the performance he displayed when the Filipino boxer fought Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003.
In that fight, Pacquiao showed great combinations and a big fighting heart to completely outbox the great Mexican on the way to an 11-round TKO win.
Since then, Pacman went 1-1-1, registering wins over Fahsan 3-K Battery, drawing with Juan Manuel Marquez and losing to Erik Morales.
Roach said a win over Velazquez will guarantee Pacquiao a megabuck rematch with Morales.
