Pacquiao to unleash 'Durian Punch' versus Matthysse
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Jul 2018
Kuala Lumpur - There is a fruit that is banned in most hotels, public transportation and public spaces in Malaysia and neighboring Singapore.
The infamous durian is not allowed to be brought in by tourists and locals when they check in to their hotels or when they board taxis and trains due to its overpowering smell.
But boxer Manny Pacquiao is about to carry one with him in Malaysia?s capital when he fights for the world title this Sunday.
Pacquiao will not be physically bringing the pungent fruit in the ring but a fistic weapon that his new head trainer and childhood friend Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez dubbed as the ?Durian Punch?.
?Nagamit na natin dati iyan, medyo nawala lang ng konti. So, binalik lang natin.? (We?ve used that before but it?s been gone from our fights. So, we just brought it back.) Fernandez told this Philboxing.com scribe after their final press conference to promote their fight.
Fernandez who is taking the helm as Pacquiao?s chief coach for the first time, likened this punch to the fruit?s sharp and thorny exterior.
?Kung gaano man katulis ang bunga ng durian, ganun din katulis yung bibitawan natin.? (Akin to the sharpness of the durian fruit are the punches that we will be letting off.)
Fernandez and Pacquiao trained for ten weeks in General Santos and Manila in the Philippines in preparation for this bout. He was assisted by longtime assistant coaches Nonoy Neri and Justin Fortune and new addition Nonito Donaire Sr.
?Medyo matagal na natin di nakikita yung mga matatalim na suntok ng ating ginagalang na senador, so, pinapabunga lang natin ng maganda muna.?
(It?s been awhile since we?ve seen those sharp blows from our respected senator, So, we are just letting it yield nicely.)
If Team Pacquiao?s plan materializes, Malaysia will see a new championship belt across Pacquiao?s waist courtesy of their most maligned fruit.
Photo (L-R): Trainer Buboy Fernandez, MP Promotions's Joe Ramos, Pacquiao, De La Hoya, Matthysse, matchmaker Sean Gibbons and Matthysse's manager Mario Arano during Thursday's presscon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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