FORMER PACQUIAO SPARRING PARTNER BELTRAN WINS COMEBACK FIGHT IN STYLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 May 2016
Former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner, 34-year old one time lightweight title challenger Raymundo Beltran improved his record to 30-7-1 with 18 knockouts has returned from a year off after a failed drug test at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, with a second round knockout of 23-year old Ivan Najera who dropped to 16-3 with 8 knockouts.
Boxing Scene reported that the 137 pound Mexican Beltran who fights out of Phoenix, Arizona, nearly dropped Najera, 138, of San Antonio, Texas, in the first but needed one more round to get it done. It was Najera?s second stoppage defeat.
The referee was Jon Schorle.
The report said ?working early at close quarters, Najera was taking the fight to Beltran. The veteran made him pay, rocking and nearly dropping Najera with a hook. At the bell to end the first, they touched gloves in respect for each other?s efforts.?
Mixing it up to the head and the body, Beltran found a closing touch in the waning seconds of the round. He stunned Najera on the ropes and then landed a succession of hard lefts to send Najera to the floor. Schorle stopped the punishment at 2:58 of round two.
Beltran wins his first fight since testing positive for a PED after what was initially a stoppage win over former titlist Takahiro Ao in May 2015. The result was reversed to a ?No Decision.?
ESPN?s well-known writer/columnist Dan Rafael once wrote that ?one of the reasons Beltran said he is still around and has been able claw his way to becoming a serious contender is because of the great Manny Pacquiao.
Beltran spent years as one of Pacquiao's top sparring partners, helping him get ready for big fight after big fight. All of that time spent working with Pacquiao was also spent learning from him.
Beltran said "I think all of that time with him definitely made me a better fighter I was working with the best."
Beltran has sparred dozens and dozens of rounds with Pacquiao and said he worked in around 10 or 12 of his training camps, adding ?I sparred with him a lot. Every time I sparred I tried to do my job, but I was not there to be a punching bag for Manny. I always tried to beat him. It was very intense, hard training and it made me better."
Despite some intense sparring with the Filipino legend, Beltran said he loves Pacquiao.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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