FORMER CONDITIONING COACH SAYS IT?S A BAD FIGHT FOR MANNY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Oct 2008
Former heavyweight contender and Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao?s conditioning coach at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym for several big fights in the past ? Justin Fortune - says the clash with Oscar De La Hoya is ?a bad fight.?
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Fortune said ?I don?t think it?s a good fight because De La Hoya is a bigger guy, he?s stronger and is very smart. He is also a good boxer.?
Fortune who once battled heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and lost by a 4th round TKO in a non-title fight in Dublin, Ireland in July 1995 said Pacquiao ?is a natural 135 ? 140 and at that weight Manny destroys people. By the time Oscar fights he will be around 156 pounds and that?s a big guy.?
He said De La Hoya is not a big guy who is not fit. He is a ?big guy who is fit and ready to fight so it?s a very difficult fight? Fortune said there are a ?lot of other fighters out there who Pacquiao can fight and beat.? Among those he mentioned who he was confident Pacquiao could beat was Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton of Britain who fights Paul Malignaggi for the IBO light welterweight title on November 22 in Las Vegas.
Fortune said he was ?not really worried? that Pacquiao could get hurt in the fight against De La Hoya because the Filipino southpaw who is the reigning WBC lightweight champion ?always comes in, in very, very good condition and in that way I don?t think he will get hurt.?
Fortune who split with Roach some time ago said he hasn?t been in touch with Pacquiao and since he was ?not my fighter although I?d like to consider him a good friend of mine and if I make contact with him Freddie will get upset and he?s got a fight coming up so it's not my place.?
The Fortune Gym is doing quite well despite the harsh economic times according to Fortune and he has a roster of promising fighters with him although he conceded they will take a while to get to the top. He mentioned a 168 pound Tyrell Hendricks who he said ?is very, very strong and a good fighter? as among his prospects.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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