Roach: Bobby Pacquiao Will Beat “Famoso”
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 04 Oct 2005
LOS ANGELES—Despite being a heavy underdog to beat former world champion Carlos “El Famoso” Hernandez, Bobby Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach think they have a good chance of pulling off a mega-upset on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) when all of the boxing world will be watching.
Being in the undercard of the biggest rematch of the year—the Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo II—Pacquiao leaves for Las Vegas today in preparation for probably the biggest fight of his life, a make-or-break bout with Hernandez, who is also looking to get back on the winning track.
Bobby, the younger brother of Filipino pound-for-pound great Manny, said that he has worked hard in the gym, trained well under the watchful eye of Roach, has studied “Famoso’s” style on tape and has devised a fight plan that will prove wrong predictions of so-called boxing experts and oddsmakers.
Pacquiao, who on paper holds a not-so-convincing 25 wins, 11 losses and three draws (11 KOs) record, is coming off a sensational victory over the highly touted Carlos Navarro in June. He is currently a 7-1 underdog against the granite-chinned Hernandez, a boxer who has not been knocked out in a stellar 13-year pro career.
Hernandez used to train at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, the same gym where the Pacquiaos have been honing up their skills for some time now. The 34-year-old Hernandez, who lost in his last fight against Jesus Chavez by a split decision last May, also needs to win big in order to resuscitate a career that had its highs when he was the International Boxing Federation super-featherweight champion.
Hernandez’s other notable losses were dealt by superstars Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather and Genaro Hernandez. He has a 41-5-1 win-loss-draw record (24 KOs).
“He’s gonna win and he’s gonna beat this guy,” said Roach, the same man who was instrumental in the making of Manny Pacquiao.
Bobby Pacquiao is ranked 23rd among the world’s top super-featherweights and a win against Hernandez will finally set him apart from the more illustrious career and shadow of his brother Manny, the “Pacman,” who will also be at ringside to cheer on his brother.
“Handa na ako at talagang pinagbutihan ko ang ensayo,” said Pacquiao, who has sparred 120 rounds and has been training for one and a half months now. “Sana, ipagdasal din ako ng ating mga kababayan dahil gagawin ko ang lahat para manalo.”
“The jab’s the key,” said Roach, who will plane in to Las Vegas on Wednesday. Manny Pacquiao arrives on Thursday together with his wife Jinkee and friend Rex “Wakee” Salud.
Hernandez has beaten a Filipino southpaw in the past, journeyman Isagani Pumar. One thing that will work against “Famoso” is the familiarity of Roach and Wild Card trainer Eric Brown, who once coached Hernandez. “He can be beaten,” they said.
Pacquiao’s fight will be shown on pay-per-view, being one of the undercards in the rematch of the Castillo-Corrales saga, a fight that has been touted as the Fight of the Year and even of Fight of the Decade.
The cavernous Thomas and Mack Center will play host to the mega-event, which will also see the rematch of Hussein Hussein and Jorge Arce. The son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, Julio Jr. (22-0, 17 KOs), will also see action against Grover Wiley. Wiley beat Julio Sr. last September 17.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
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