Tszyu to spar with Manny?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 Jun 2019
Buboy Fernandez (left) and Justin Fortune.
?Regular? WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao is expected to kick off sparring on Tuesday in preparation for his unification duel with ?super? WBA titlist Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on July 20 and Australian superwelterweight ruler Tim Tszyu may be brought in from Sydney to take over from George Kambosos as chief sparmate.
Pacquiao?s head trainer Buboy Fernandez said the goal in training camp is to work on speed and stamina. ?That?s what we need against Thurman,? he noted yesterday in Pilipino. ?Our plan is to attack Thurman who?s flat-footed. Against (Shawn) Porter, I noticed Thurman leaned on the ropes a lot then countered. If he does that against Manny, he?ll pay for it. Manny?s not like Porter. He?ll make Thurman feel his punches. Thurman likes to move around but isn?t as quick as Manny.?
Fernandez, newly-elected Vice Mayor of Polangui, Albay, said strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, who arrived here from Los Angeles last Sunday, has suggested tapping Tszyu as a sparring partner since Kambosos is unavailable. Kambosos, a Greek-Australian, sparred with Pacquiao in preparation for Lucas Matthysse and Adrien Broner. He?s booked to fight in Athens on June 7. Tszyu?s father Kostya, a Russian who relocated to Australia but is now back in Moscow, was a former world lightwelterweight champion. Tszyu, 24, stands 5-9 and has a 13-0 record, with 10 KOs. Fortune said Tszyu is more a boxer than a puncher and fights a similar style as Thurman.
?From what I know, Tszyu?s next fight is in August so it?s a great opportunity for him to spar with Manny and learn from him,? said Fortune. ?We want to start sparring on Tuesday. If Tszyu?s not available, we?ll go with local guys. We?ll train in Manila up to when Manny leaves for L. A. on June 14 or 15 so he starts training at Wild Card on Monday, June 17. Our plan is for Manny to start sparring eight rounds when he gets to L. A. so he?ll work four to six rounds in Manila.?
Fernandez said he hasn?t seen Pacquiao as focused in training for an opponent as he is now. When Pacquiao reported for work at the Elorde gym near MOA last Wednesday, he told Fernandez to tire him out. ?Manny went 10 rounds straight in training,? said Fernandez. ?He wants to be 100 percent. I think Manny got mad at Thurman for disrespecting the Bible during the media tour. I haven?t seen Manny so focused on beating up an opponent since the third (Erik) Morales fight (in 2006). We?re studying Thurman?s style. I notice he sometimes goes southpaw. We?re prepared for that. He?s weak in the body. We know that. He?s had problems with his right elbow, left hand and shoulder. We know that, too. We?re coming in prepared.?
Fernandez said he?s not worried about Thurman?s reputation as a smart, two-way fighter. ?Broner?s a very talented fighter but when he felt Manny?s power, he wasn?t the same anymore,? he said. ?That?s what will happen to Thurman, no matter how good he?s supposed to be.? Fernandez said Broner never had a chance. ?Before the fight, Freddie (Roach) and I insisted for Broner to shave his beard,? said Fernandez. ?We wanted Manny to see where his jaw is. So he shaved it.?
Fernandez said he?s reviewed Thurman?s win by a unanimous decision over Shawn Porter, a former Pacquiao sparmate and now the WBC welterweight champion, in 2016. ?I saw a lot of things we can take advantage of,? said Fernandez. Thurman?s win was described by Ring Magazine as ?gritty? and ?a sign of his emerging know-how.? There were no knockdowns but the match was a Fight of the Year contender and entertained a CBS average audience of 3.1 million viewers, peaking at 3.94 million.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024