LOS ANGELES, California — A quick look at Hector Velazquez’s face and one can be sure the man does not tend a garden or drive a taxi for a living.
With thick eyebrows and dark-brown eyes, the Mexican emits an appearance of malevolence and carries a smirk that sends a message that he’s the type of guy you don’t want to bump into in a dark alley.
In short, Velazquez strikes fear.
That’s how he looked when he strode towards the front desk of the Wilshire Grand Hotel to register late Wednesday night after a three-hour drive from Tijuana.
Velazquez wore a short-sleeved plain white shirt, faded denim pants and dark leather shoes, but on Saturday night, he will have to be content with a pair of satin or cotton trunks and gloves as he shoots for superstardom against a man many believe is too powerful to make his dream happen.
Velasquez arrived on cover of darkness, four days before he tangles with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in a 12-round fight at the Staples Center, a fight which both consider could be a defining moment of their careers.
Pacquiao is looking at Velazquez as a step to another blockbuster encounter with Erik Morales early next year, while the Mexican similarly goes into the ring with the object of future riches.
Pacquiao, according to Torres is not a roadblock, but a springboard.
“I have faith and confidence in what Hector can do,” said Torres during a brief interview. “Mentally and physically, Hector is prepared. That I cannot say of Manny Pacquiao.”
Torres said Pacquiao’s performance nose-dived after the Filipino took the scalp of Marco Antonio Barrera in Nov. 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
“After that (win over Barrera), Pacquiao went like this,” said Torres in Spanish, pointing his right index finger downward.
While Pacquiao hasn’t been phenomenal in his last two fights —against Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales —Velazquez has been making a lot of heads turn.
“Hector is very prepared and determined to win this fight. We are confident he can take the best punches of Pacquiao,” added Torres.
Velazquez, 30, sports a 42-10-2 win-loss-draw card stuffed with 31 knockouts, but his losses were mostly on cuts and “from what I know, he hasn’t been stopped or knocked out,” said Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez while waiting for Velazquez’s party to arrive.
“He’s a strong guy and durable,” said Jimenez. “And if Manny thinks this is going to be an easy fight, he is asking for trouble.”
“I have seen Velazquez many times and I know he can take a good shot even those coming from Pacquiao,” added Jimenez.
Knowing he has to be in razor-sharp form to stand a chance, Velazquez racked up 150 rounds of sparring in a two-month period at the Cheto’s gym in downtown Tijuana.
Pacquiao, in contrast, logged close to 100 rounds of sparring at the Wild Card Boxing Club in a span of four weeks.
Despite being criticized for cramming, Pacquiao’s trainers believe the month-long preparation is good enough even if the fight goes into the trenches.
“He’s ready to go 12 rounds,” declared Freddie Roach after Pacquiao weighed in at a pound over the limit of 130 lbs. after another intense workout.
Pacquiao, who holds a 39-3-2 ledger with 30 knockouts, is four years younger at 26.
Pacquiao was in a playful mood once after what could be his last training and before the sun went down, as he fetched wife Jinkee at the airport. Jinkee flew in from Manila accompanied by Cebu boxing promoter Wakee Salud.
