ARIZA CAN?T UNDERSTAND THE MEPRANUM LOSS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Jun 2010
Manny Pacquiao?s ace conditioning expert Alex Ariza can?t understand how Filipino southpaw Richie Mepranum lost by a 5th round TKO to veteran Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda in their clash for the vacant flyweight title in Mexico last Sunday.
Ariza told us he was ?surprised at what happened after that amazing performance in Dallas. I was shocked.?
Mepranum stunned previously undefeated knockout artist Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez who entered the ring with a record of 20 knockouts in 27 wins, out-boxing the fancied Mexican and counter-punching brilliantly to win a lopsided ten round decision in Dallas last March 12.
Ariza said he didn?t know what happened but revealed he had heard rumors about Mepranum?s preparation even as we received reports from the Wild Card Gym where Mepranum was training that he had hurt his hand a week before the title fight.
However, Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz who handles Mepranum together with Pacquao said he hadn?t heard anything about an injury from the Mepranum team in Mexico.
While Ariza admitted he didn?t really know what happened he ?found it hard to believe that it happened to that kid because he is such a warrior.?
Reports on the fight said Mepranum did well to take the opening round against Miranda but that the Mexican caught him with a left hook to the liver in round two which signaled the beginning of the end.
Miranda raked him with body shots and sent him to the canvas three times, finishing him off with a vicious shot to the jaw before referee Russell Mora called a halt in the fifth round even though the game Filipino beat the count.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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