NEW YORK — When Bobby Pacquiao emerged victorious against the rugged Carlos Hernandez of El Salvador last year, a lot of ringsiders thought the scores were interchanged.
But there was no correction made, leaving Pacquiao and his supporters, including big brother Manny jumping with joy at the end of the 12-rounder staged at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The scary thought that the result would be recanted hounded the young Pacquiao no end.
And that’s the reason why Pacquiao is determined to win his Saturday (Sunday in Manila) showdown with Kevin Kelley at Madison Square Garden here in the hope of putting that bitter memory behind. “I have never prepared like this before,” said Bobby, who is younger by one year.
While Bobby was doing everything to toughen himself at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, brother Manny was busy shooting commercials and gracing public events in the Philippines.
When he went to Freddie Roach’s famed sweat shop in Hollywood last April 17, Bobby did not waste time and plunged into serious training under the watchful eyes of Canadian boxing man Mike Koncz.
So when Bobby bade his friends, admirers and gym rats goodbye early this week for the six-hour journey to the Big Apple, he exuded with a new-found enthusiasm.
Though he will be up against a 38-year-old veteran, Bobby is not taking any chances.
Kelley, nicknamed “The Flushing Flash,” holds a 58-6-2 win-loss-draw card with 39 knockouts. The former World Boxing Council featherweight champion remains a livewire despite his age.
In his last outing, Kelley, also a southpaw like the Filipino, stopped Juan Carlos Ramirez of Mexico.
Kelley, who had fought and lost to Prince Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, hopes to beat Bobby to get another shot at glory.
But Bobby won’t allow that he will be used only as stepping stone. He, too, wants another big win to gain another lucrative deal and enhance his reputation.
