Pacquiao and Roach on sparring partner Jorge Linares
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 25 Sep 2011
BAGUIO CITY ? Why was lightweight Jorge Linares chosen to be Manny Pacquiao?s sparring partner in preparation for his World Boxing organization welterweight title defense against Juan Manuel Marquez?
The smartness and cleverness ? traits that Marquez possesses ? are what Linares is expected to provide, both Pacquiao and chief trainer Freddie Roach told this writer in an interview Saturday here.
?Linares might only be a lightweight but like Marquez, he is a smart fighter and very clever, which is what the doctor?s prescribed to be my sparring partner,? Pacquiao said after four rounds of sparing with the Venezuelan lightweight at the Shapeup boxing gym inside the Cooyeesan Hotel along Naguillian Road here.
?That?s right,? Roach agreed. ?Because Marquez is such a smart fighter, we have to be smarter when we meet him on November 12 (November 13 (Manila Time). Linares, indeed, represents what Manny needs, especially this early in his preparations.? Roach was referring to Pacquiao?s defense of his title against the Mexican in Act 111 of their trilogy at the MGM in Las Vegas.
?Besides, like Marquez, Linares is a thinking fighter who never wastes time and movement when he?s on top of that ring, the 51-year-old four-time ?Trainer of the Year? told this writer. ?And that?s what I would like Manny to be like if he wants to really beat Marquez convincingly to erase all doubts of the results of those previous bouts.?
?I don?t want Manny to be what he was the first two times he fought Marquez, immature and careless. He?s fought many times since his split decision win in the second bout and those gave him maturity which I hope he would use this time around.?
?The next thing to do is for him to learn how to be smarter. Not of his previous self when he made useless and wasted movements that in the end, tired him, making him unable to finish convincingly,? Roach analyzed.
?Okey naman. Sa dalawang beses naming sparring, may natutuhan din ako sa kanya. His patience in the face of my attacks na tingin ko ay pakikinabangan ko laban kay Marquez,? Pacquiao, for his part, said. ?Me laban siya next month for the vacant world lightweight title, so marami rin naman akong input na naibibigay sa kanya.?
Linares is set to fight Antonio De Marco for the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight championship on October 15.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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