HORN'S SIZE ADVANTAGE NOT A PROBLEM
By Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Jun 2017
?No problem!?
This was how the camp of reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao reacted to reports that his Australian challenger Jeff Horn will be exploiting to the hilt his size advantage in their title showdown on Sunday in Brisbane?s 55,000-seat Suncorp Arena.
American Hall of Fame chief trainer Freddie Roach, Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune and Filipino assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri and Roger ?Haplas? Fernandez were all in saying that Pacquiao is used to fighting and beating opponents much bigger and heavier than him and facing another won?t make a difference.
?Since climbing to from the juniors welterweight and super-welterweight divisions, Manny?s been fighting bigger, taller an heavier opponents beating all of them, so, what else is new??
Roach recalled in an overseas telephone interview Monday before overseeing Pacquiao?s first training session since arriving Saturday in Queensland?s premier city.
?(Antonio) Margarito was the tallest fighter Manny had met at five-feet 11 inches and he beat him black and blue despite enjoying a 12-pound edge at fight night leading to his semi-retirement,? Roach reminisced.
Sydney-born Fortune who now call Los Angeles his home, for his part, wanted to remind the opposite camp that Chris Algieri stands five-feet-10 inches and ?Manny knocked him down six times en route to a 12-round shutout victory.?
?In other words, we really don?t mind how big and how tall Horn will be at fight night,? the duo chorused. ?We believe we?ve prepared Manny for all the weapons the other camp would be putting on the table. And we will implement what we believe are the solutions to them.?
Both Roach and Fortune were reacting to Horn trainer Glenn Rushton?s claim the 29-year-old WBO No. 2-ranked contender, besides his 5-9 frame, coud have, too, an edge in weight.
Rushton interview with media men that his ward could be climbing the ring some seven pounds heavier than the defending champion nine years his junior.
A week before Sunday?s confrontation, Horn?s camp itself believed the challenger has yet to lose 4 kg to make the welterweight limit 66.7 kg. (147-ound). He should make that weight requirement on official weigh-in Friday.
Before flying to Brisbane, Pacquiao was within the vicinity of 65 kg.
?Wala kaming problema dyan,? Buboy, for his part assured. ?Ang problema nga naming kung paaano magpa-bigat. Sa tutoo lang si Horn ang may problema. Posible kasing s ma-overweight pagdating ng weigh-in,? he added.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph.
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