CONCERN OVER PACQUIAO’S SPARRING PARTNERS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Mar 2007
There is growing concern at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles over Manny Pacquiao’s delay in reporting for workouts in preparation for his April 14 showdown with undefeated but unknown Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas.
Justin Fortune who was set to take over from celebrated, two-time “Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach as well as others in the gym are worried after Pacquiao postponed his latest departure set for March 6 and will now leave on March 17, according to his lawyer Franklin “Jing” Gacal. Gacal said Pacquiao had chosen the 17th because “it’s a lucky number for him” pointing to the fact that the Filipino ring idol was born on December 17.
Even local boxing experts including original “Team Pacquiao” member and TV analyst Moy Lainez said Pacquiao could never get the kind of top-class Mexican and other sparring partners he can tangle with at the Wild Card Gym.
While not wanting to denigrate Filipino boxers Jesar Ancajas who was knocked down by Pacquiao in sparring and promising No. 2 junior lightweight Aaron Melgarejo who has taken a beating in the sweltering heat of the ABAP Gym in GenSan, Lainez said they were not really helping Pacquiao.
Although the knockdown of Ancajas was played up the record shows that Ancajas had lost 15 fights and won 14 with 2 draws and 7 knockouts and had lost his last two fights by KO. His wins were against patsies such as Allan Inguito 4-14-3, Bennie Entrata 3-4, Monte Carlos 0-3 and Makoto Saito 3-7 according to boxrec.com. Melgarejo has a record of 9-5-1 with 3 KO’s lost his last fight while the latest addition to the roster of sparring partners Arniel Tinampay has lost his last four fights.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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