Manny Pacquiao?s ?Twin? is Ilonggo Marathoner
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 20 Jun 2008
BEVERLY HILLS, California ? Boxing fans would seek his autograph in malls and public places here thinking he was Manny Pacquiao.
But Gaudencio ?John? Casa Jr., a former seaman from Calinog, Iloilo who now resides here, said he is already used to this kind of ?inconvenience? as no less than Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s foster parent and trainer, once teased him he could be mistaken as the twin of the Filipino boxing icon if not the real Pacquiao because of his strong resemblance with the best pound-for-pound speedster.
?Even Mario Lopez (star of ?Dancing with the stars?) once mistook me as Manny Pacquiao,? beamed the 43-year-old Casa, a marathoner who is also regular habitu? in the Wild Card boxing gym in Hollywood.
?Sometimes, I go there (in the Wild Card gym) to train but not seriously,? explained Casa, younger brother of Filipina Hollywood actress Karen Elizabeth ?Dolly? who also resides here. Casa said he trains only in the popular gym for fun and also loves to hit the speedball and punching bag like a true boxer.
Casa, married to actress Sharon Cuneta?s make-up artist Rizalina of Leyte, said he also sometimes joins Pacquiao in running as he is seriously preparing to participate in the lung-busting 142.195-kilometer long L.A. Marathon in March 2009 and the Long Beach Marathon in October this year.
?My involvement in boxing gym is to get good endurance and best training (for marathon),? stressed Casa who claims he needs to log at least 27 miles before the actual marathon race. ?God has already given me so much. The purpose why I am running is because I want to serve the poor and inspire them.?
He runs regularly from Huntington to Malibu passing along Santa Monica Beach. He describes Pacquiao, who will challenge David Diaz for World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title on June 28 in Las Vegas, as ?a fast runner with good stamina.?
Casa said Pacquiao will beat Diaz ?because two to three more megabuck fights are waiting after his title shot at the WBC 135-lb crown dubbed ?Lethal Combination?.
Top photo: The author (L) poses with Pacquiao dead ringer John Casa, Jr.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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