SAN FRANCISCO, California – Fans of Manny Pacquiao both in the United States and in the Philippines will be witnessing a much better, more focused and more determined fighter when the Filipino ring idol faces unranked and unheralded Mexican Hector Velazquez in a 12-round non-title bout on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
No less than the 30-year-old Ring Magazine-recognized featherweight champion himself and trainer Freddie Roach assured this during a press conference held last Tuesday.
“Manny and I have learned our lessons from the loss we suffered at the hands of (Erik) Morales early this year. Rest assured that Manny will be a more complete fighter on Sept. 10 which he should be if he wants a rematch with Morales. If he loses, there will definitely no rematch, so losing is totally out of our minds,” Roach told his audience.
The Pacquiao-Velazquez bout is actually an undercard of the main event featuring Morales himself against former Olympian Zahir Raheem in a card titled “Double Trouble,” which is being promoted by Top Rank.
Pacquiao agreed with his world-renowned trainer admitting there were many problems and distractions during his training and actual fight against Morales held last March in Las Vegas.
“This time though, no more distractions. Everything went as planned and that my team management really sees to it that I stay focused,” he said in a combination of English, Tagalog and Spanish.
Roach apologized to the fans, saying they have to really bar them from the training venue in the interest of their idol himself. “The fans understood. The first time we closed the door, they never came back.”
During the entire press briefing, Pacquiao stayed calm and even exchanged jokes with his interviewers, mostly members of the American and Mexican media.
“Talagang hinigpitan ang ensayo. Walang makalapit maging sa roadwork,” Los Angeles-based Filipino sportswriter Winchell Campos, who acts as Pacquiao camp’s spokesperson, attested. “Of course, may mga tumatawag pa rin.”
” Mga kaibigan, pulitiko sa Pilipinas at mediamen na nagre-request ng plane tickets and hotel accommodations, but while before it was Manny himself who took care of them, hindi na ngayon. May mga grupo nang nag-aayos ng mga iyon. Kaya lang, kung noon, open si Manny ngayon hindi lahat mapapagbigyan. Hindi naman kasi ganoon kalaki ang kikitain ni Manny sa labang ito,” Campos explained.
By the time Manny Pacquiao tapers off in his training in the coming week, he would have already logged almost 100 rounds of sparring.
Pacquiao is fighting for the first time at the home of the LA Lakers and when the Bulletin got in touch with him yesterday morning, the 26-year-old puncher was already preparing to doze off. “(I) sparred ten rounds yesterday against three sparring partners,” said Pacquiao. “Tingin ko handa na sa bakbakan kay Velazquez.”
Pacquiao said he would still be doing roadwork probably until Thursday morning (on the eve of the official weighin).
“Light-light na lang during that time,” said Pacquiao, whose scheduled 12-round super featherweight brawl with the mean-looking native of Tijuana will be shown live on Philippine soil by Solar Sports through HBO.
Pacquiao is also overly excited especially when Morales’ name is mentioned during conversations, but he remains wary of what an unheralded slugger like Velazquez will bring to the ring.
“Of course, I am looking at Morales. I want a rematch but I cannot afford to take Velazquez for granted because if I do, I might get in trouble,” added Pacquiao, who is keenly awaiting the arrival of wife Jinkee on Wednesday from Manila.
Jinkee will be joined in the same PAL flight by Pacquiao’s friend, Cebu boxing promoter-manager Wakee Salud and Lito Mondejar, a remnant of the old management team headed by Rod Nazario. —With reports from Nick GIONGCO
