PACQUIAO'S JAPANESE SPARRING PARTNER SENT HOME
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 06 Nov 2013
Manny Pacquiao's Japanese sparring partner, OPBF super lightweight champion Keita Obara has been sent home after going two rounds with the "Fighter of the Decade" last Saturday at the Pacman Wild Card Gym in General Santos City.
Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz explained that "his style did not suit our purpose."
At the same time he said 21 year old Pan Asian Boxing Association welterweight champion Teerachai Kratingdaenggym who is ranked No. 12 in the world by the WBA is not being added to the roster of Pacquiao's sparring partners because "we are fine with the two sparring partners we have - Liam Vaughan and Dan Nazareno.
Obara was much taller than Pacquiao at 5?10? and had a record of 10-1 with 8 knockouts and was regarded as a solid puncher.
He won the title in a rematch with Hayato Hokazono last April 18, scoring a 4th round knockout after losing in their first encounter by an 8th round TKO on November 14, 2012. In his last title defense Obara won by a 3rd round knockout over So Takenaka.
Koncz also told the Manila Standard that Pacquiao sparred 7 rounds on Tuesday with Filipino welterweight Dan Nazareno and British light middleweight Liam Vaughan and that Manny "looked great."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025