That sonic boom you heard Wednesday in Southern California was a collective collision of a few of the best punchers in the west including Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, Victor Ortiz, Miguel Garcia and Vicente Escobedo.
The Wild Card Boxing gym was bumping as Pacquiao traded blows with some of Southern California’s best young fighters to prepare for his third fight with Erik Morales on Nov. 4 in Las Vegas.
First, Guerrero, the current IBF featherweight titleholder, sparred a few rounds with Ricky Quiles who boxes at lightweight and junior welterweight. Guerrero’s left-handed power stroke makes it dangerous for any opponent. Because that left hand comes from a different angle, if an opponent is not focused he can run right into it. But Quiles is a clever boxer and has fought many elite fighters. Their exchanges were brisk but not too hard. Then came Scrappy Ortiz. The Ghost mainly went into a defensive mode against Ortiz who kept him on the ropes. Guerrero blocked, slipped and maneuvered out of range with Ortiz firing combinations.
After a brief intermission, Pacquiao and his team entered the backroom ring to meet Escobedo, the young phenom promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. He’s now trained by Freddie Roach and is the primary sparring partner for Pacquiao. Escobedo is almost the same height and build as Morales.
Pacquiao’s burst of speed keeps his opponents tentative. They don’t know when the dynamite is going to go off with a rapid four-punch combination. So most look for moments when Pacquiao slips into defensive mode.
Escobedo, whose quick jab and fast combinations normally prove too much for opponents, can’t mesmerize Pacquiao who’s fought the best in the world including Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Morales. Both fighters have their moments with speedy combinations. The difference is Pacquiao’s blinding combinations have that pop and come from one side to the other.
“He’s pretty amazing,” says Escobedo, who is scheduled to fight in Chicago on Nov. 10 in a televised bout. “Going against someone like Manny you find out how good they are and what it takes to be at that level. He works hard every day.”
Escobedo is no slouch, he also can rip off a four or five punch combination in the blink of an eye. But Pacquiao immediately knows what to do and always has his left hand cocked for a reprisal. It comes quick like a bazooka missile. Several instances both unleash multi-punches that come in a blur and the danger is over for a short time unless the Filipino bomber feels like burning the air with his fists again.
“If you let up for an instant he’ll catch you,” Escobedo says. “If he sees any flaw he exploits it and punishes you.”
After Escobedo, the younger brother of former world champion Robert Garcia jumps in the ring for a set of four rounds. Pacquiao lets Miguel Garcia fire his punches as he tests the Oxnard fighter’s skill level. Then the pair of fighters begin exchanging with Garcia finding some room for his right hand, but not often. Then Pacquiao unloads with his speedy combinations and the two exchange liberally with neither fighter losing much. Garcia receives some straight lefts that snap his head back but his exit plan works and he’s out of danger.
“He’s faster than I thought he was,” said Garcia.
After four brisk rounds, big Victor Ortiz enters the ring.
Ortiz, who rambles between lightweight and junior welterweight, is a southpaw like Pacquiao so it makes for an interesting sparring session. But Ortiz looks huge compared to Pacquiao. Once they exchange punches, it’s obvious that Ortiz packs mega-power in his gloves.
Pacquiao doesn’t seem to care about Ortiz’s size advantage. After getting tagged with a solid right hook, Pacquiao began looking for chinks in Ortiz’s defensive armor. The big Oxnard boxer had a constant smile on his face during the entire session.
“I was having fun,” Ortiz said.
During one exchange both land right hooks with the concussive impact of a sawed-off shotgun. Ortiz backed off to see if Pacquiao was able to continue but the Filipino bomber motioned him to continue and back went Ortiz with a right hook left hand combination. Pacquiao unloaded one of his patented four-punch combos. Neither fighter blinked during the exchange. A few supporters of each camp seemed to exhale all at once.
All in a day’s work. After the sparring sessions the Oxnard team gathered up their gear and headed back to La Colonia.
Percival to fight in Germany
Fontana’s Heather Percival has signed to meet Belarussia’s Alesia Graf in November 21 in Germany for the WIBA junior bantamweight world title. Percival (9-3) is ranked number seven by the IBO computer rankings and Graf (15-1) is rated number six.
“We can’t find a fight so we decided to go over there and try our luck,” said Larry Ramirez, who trains and manages Percival. “Heather has been training all along.”
Percival won her last match against number 23 ranked bantamweight Sharon Gaines last month in San Manuel Casino. Percival’s losses have come to highly ranked contenders Monica Lovato, Terri Cruz and featherweight Jeannine Garside.
“Heather is always improving,” said Ramirez, a former U.S. Olympic boxing coach. “She learns very quickly and has even more moves.”
Baby Doll Reid in Long Beach
Elena “Baby Doll” Reid, the new WIBA flyweight world titleholder, is making a guest appearance at the Long Beach Arena on Friday Oct. 20. It’s the opening night for the Ice Dogs who play the Idaho team. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. and Reid will be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans before the game. Reid is scheduled to fight on Dec. 18 in the same arena. Reid recently beat Mary Ortega for the flyweight world title. She trains in Las Vegas but will be at the game for the special occasion.
Kaliesha West fights on Nov. 18
Moreno Valley’s Kaliesha West is traveling north once again to Monterey and will meet former National amateur champion Stella Nijoff of New York on Nov. 18. Both were standout amateurs with Nijoff capturing the National amateur title twice. West won the junior Nationals once. They’ve never met in the ring before. West (4-0) is no stranger to Monterey where she has one victory. Nijoff (1-0-1) fought to a draw in her last fight against Carly Batey at San Manuel Casino. “I’d love to fight Kaliesha,” said Nijoff after her bout in San Manuel.
“I watched her fight many times in the amateurs,” said West, 18. “I’m looking forward to this fight. She has an awkward style and she’s hard to hit.”
Super middleweights
Joe Calzaghe’s victory over Sakio Bika for the IBF and WBO super middleweight titles and Mikkel Kessler’s knockout of Markus Beyer for the WBC and WBA super middleweight titles seems to point toward a super middleweight showdown between Calzaghe and Kessler. But what about Librado Andrade?
Andrade, ranked number one by the WBC, accepted money to step aside for Beyer and Kessler. But what does he do now? Kessler should meet Andrade. Both are familiar with each other’s style from sparring a year ago.
“He’s a very strong fighter,” said Andrade.
Meanwhile, Calzaghe made no mention of wanting a match with Kessler. Instead, the fighting Welshman is pining for a showdown with the still-retired Bernard Hopkins.
Manfredo wins again
Peter Manfredo Jr. destroyed Joey Spina in three rounds this past Saturday and now the stage is set for Roy Jones Jr. if he wants it. Manfredo, who is promoted by the Contender television show, has rampaged through his last two opponents this past year. A Manfredo bout against Jones seems too difficult for the man once considered the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world.
