Dan Nazareno Jr. earns spot in Macao by impressing Team Pacquiao during sparring sessions
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 23 Nov 2013
Macao, China - When Dan Nazareno Jr. received the call to spar with Manny Pacquiao last October, he was in shock.
The 24 year old boxer from San Fernando, Pampanga in the Philippines, was unable to sleep for days, eagerly anticipating the time when he'll share the ring with his superstar idol.
"Noong unang kinontak ako ni Coach Jonathan (Penalosa), me lagnat ako ng araw na yun, bigla akong nagpapawis, biglang nawala lagnat ko. Siyempre, makaka-sparring ko yung 8 division world champion. Ilang araw akong di nakatulog," Nazareno Jr. told Philboxing.com in his room at the Venetian Hotel here in Macao.
(When I received the call from Coach Jonathan, I had a fever that day, I decided to sweat it out and my fever disappeared. Of course, I will be sparring with the 8 division world champion. I was not able to sleep for days.)
Nazareno Jr. made the best of his time at The WildCard Gym in General Santos City, where Pacquiao spent the bulk of his training camp for his fight tomorrow against Brandon Rios.
Nazareno Jr. impressed everybody in the gym, he followed instructions to mimic Rios' style. He was asked to be aggressive and to pressure Pacquiao during their sparring sessions. He not only obliged, he lasted with the former pound for pound king, earning high marks from Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach.
"Sinasabihan siya nila na ganito ang style ni Rios, kailangang pasukin mo ng pasukin si Manny. Kaya nagustuhan siya ni Freddie at ni Manny. Pag nakaka-sparring niya si Manny, hingal na hingal din si Manny sa apat na round," Penalosa narrated.
(He was told to imitate Rios' style, you need to pressure Manny. That is why Freddie and Manny liked him. When he spars with Manny, Manny is exhausted after spending four rounds with him.)
That earned him monetary bonuses from Freddie and Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz.
"Sinabihan siya ni Freddie ng, I like you." said Penalosa.
(Freddie would tell him, I like you.)
Nazareno, despite joining the Pacquiao camp late, outlasted the other spar mates that was brought in to test Pacquiao. He would usually go first in line to climb the ring against Pacquiao, ahead of the others.
"Tuwing me session ng sparring, siya talaga ang uunahin ni Manny, kasi sa tingin ko, pag siya sa huli, medyo pagod na si Manny, kaya siya uunahin," said his other trainer, Filipino ring legend, Dodie Boy Penalosa Sr.
(Whenever there is a sparring session, he would be the first to be called in. Manny is already tired after sparring with others, so he would ask for him first.)
Because of his good showing in camp, Nazareno Jr. earned a spot in the undercard in one of boxing's mega event this year.
It was no less than Pacquiao who wanted him included in tomorrow's card, Pacquiao also picked his opponent - one of the superstar's spar mates from England and Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, 154 pounder, Liam Vaughan (8-1, 2 KOs).
"Si Kuya Manny mismo ang nagsabi, ano Dan kaya ito? Ito ang kalaban mo, ito ang ilalaban ko sa iyo," Nazareno Jr. recalled.
(It was Manny himself that told me, Dan can you take him? He will be your opponent, he is the one that I want for you.)
Nazareno Jr. despite having to climb two weight classes to face Vaughan who is a light middleweight, readily accepted the challenge.
"Siguro kaya ko naman style niya, di naman siya kalakasan, kaya ko ito kako," said Nazareno Jr.
(I think I can handle his style, he does not hit hard, I told myself, I can take him.)
His coaches upon seeing Vaughan in the gym, agreed with their boxer, and both Penalosa brothers are confident that Nazareno Jr. will be able to match the English light middleweight, despite the initial weight disparity.
The gap between their weights posed no problem to Nazareno Jr. and even loved the idea of not being able to starve and drain his body for this fight.
"Kasi naka-sparring ko naman siya, ang tingin ko, kayang-kaya ko naman siya. Hindi ako hirap sa timbang, puro kain ako kahit bukas timbangan, kain pa rin ako ng kain," the boxer said.
(Because I have sparred with him, I really think I can handle him. I am not having difficulty trying to make weight, I am eating as much as I can, even if the fight is tomorrow, I can still eat a lot.)
"Siya (Vaughan) nakikita kong sinikap talaga niya na para kunin ang timbang niya. Pumayat siya ng husto, makikita mo naman eh."
(I see him worked hard to make weight. He slimmed down a lot, you can actually see it.)
Nazareno Jr. weighed 152 lbs. in Saturday morning's weigh-in, Vaughan is a pound heavier at 153.
The battle of Pacquiao spar mates is on.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Dan Nazareno (center, L) and Liam Vaugnn (center, R) pose during their weighin Saturday morning at the Venetian in Macao. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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