EX PACQUIAO TRAINER SAYS PREPARATION WILL BE THE KEY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Jan 2008
American Rick Steheli, who trained Manny Pacquiao when he won the WBC flyweight title with a sensational eighth round knockout of Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998, says that if Pacquiao is to beat WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in their rematch in Las Vegas on March 15, ?the key is preparation.?
In an interview to be telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show ?The Main Event? which is now telecast at 9:00 p.m. on Sundays over IBC 13, Steheli said Pacquiao ?has to get to the States a couple of months early? noting that in their first fight which ended in a draw he really didn?t get there until five weeks before the fight.
Steheli said that if Pacquiao is able ?to get a good two-month training camp under his belt its really going to show on fight night.?
Steheli said he had hoped the rematch would have happened a couple of years ago but added ?I?m glad its finally going to happen because it?s a great matchup.?
Having watched the first fight at ringside Steheli said he thought Pacquiao ?had a hard time after the second round? because Marquez? style was ?very difficult and he?s an unbelievable counter-puncher.?
His former trainer said he believes Pacquiao has ?a distinct advantage in speed, is a very fast fighter both with his hands and his feet."
Looking ahead Steheli said "when you fight a counter-puncher you?ve got to start doubling up on punches. Manny ought to use his speed and make Marquez fight three minutes of every round. Marquez will be 34 when the fight happens and Manny is a high octane fighter and there are very few fighters on the planet that could hang with Manny at his pace.?
Steheli observed that Pacquiao had matured as a fighter and he can box but "he?s got that mentality where he wants to get in there and seek and destroy." However he said "if you watched Manny's last few fights the maturation process has really taken over. He can box, he can punch and he can do a little bit of everything.?
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