Pacquiao needs new sparmates
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Oct 2011
Wanted: Sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao.
Yes, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is running out of sparring mate with barekly three weeks left before facing Mexican arch-rival juan Manuel Marquez Nov. 12 for his 147-pound crown in Las Vegas.
Jorge Linares, Pacquiao?s partner in a three-week training in Baguio City, fought for the World Boxing Council lightweight title and lost to Antonio de Marco. His replacement, Zambian Olympian Hastings Bwalya, looked short of credentials and ended up with a bloodied nose and mouth when he reported for duty last week.
The African, who has an unbeaten 7-0 win-loss slate with 5 KOs and recommended by cutman Miguel Diaz, succumbed to the pound-for-pound king?s overwhelming speed and power and had to be replaced by regular sparring mate Ray Beltran after the second round.
Wenchell Campos, Pacquiao?s overseer in his Palazo residential unit in Los Angeles, reported that Bwalya showed up at the Wild Card Gym Thursday taunting and egging Pacquiao to mix it up in the opening bell in their Pacquiao to start off their getting-to-know-you session.
Bwalya, reportedly a tough sparring partner to Floyd Mayweather in his last training camp against Sugar Shane Mosley, continued trash-talking Pacquiao and got what he asked for as the eight-division champ obliged by showing the boastful impeccable footwork and a blinding hand speed in the first round of the session.
?In the second round, Pacquiao showed the former Zambia Olympian accurate punching and power combinations as he cornered his opponent with crisp body blows and a devastating uppercut that eventually bloodied his opponent's nose and mouth, Campos reported.
"Are you ok?" asked Pacquiao, as he relented on finishing off his cocky sparring partner with more punishing blows. After being trapped helplessly in the ropes, Bwalya was sent to his corner so that he could wipe off his messed up face and finished the round. Blood and vaseline was flowing out of Bwalya's nose as Pacquiao let him survive the round.
Pacquiao is in the middle of his preparations for a third fight against Marquez on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has vowed to end all doubt about the outcome of his last two previous encounters as both came close and controversial. The first fight ended in a draw while the second was a split decision.
Pacquiao then sparred for another four rounds with Beltran, who made a good account of himself. Beltran gave Pacquiao a workout minus the thrash-talking, as both boxers showed respect for each other.
Bwalya returned back to action for rounds seven and eight. Still boisterous and boastful and not one who learns his lesson easily, Bwalya chuckled and taunted, even as Pacquiao smiled.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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