SPARMATE CALLS MANNY MODERN DAY ALI
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Apr 2014
LAS VEGAS. Unbeaten welterweight prospect Lydell (Hackman) Rhodes described Manny Pacquiao as a modern-day Muhammad Ali as his prediction of the Filipino icon regaining the WBO 147-pound crown from Timothy Bradley here Saturday night came true.
Rhodes, 26, spent close to two months training and sparring with Pacquiao from General Santos City to Los Angeles. He outpointed Mexican Alejandro Rodriguez via a six-round majority decision at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino last Friday night. Rhodes preserved his unbeaten record which is now 20-0, with 9 KOs.
Rhodes said he?s three times a better fighter today because of Pacquiao. ?Overall, I think we sparred 60 to 70 rounds,? he said. ?The one thing I learned from Manny is mental toughness. In the gym, you don?t play around. You focus on what you need to do. You work hard. You stay in the zone.?
Rhodes said Pacquiao was more than ready for Bradley. ?At the start of camp, he was already in tremendous shape,? he said. ?Manny was playing basketball every day so no problem with his stamina. As for his power, it?s always been there. He got stronger as the camp progressed. Late in the camp, he started holding back, pulling his punches. He had his rhythm and timing back. He could?ve dominated and even hurt us in sparring but he didn?t want to. What I noticed in camp was his footwork which he really worked on. That?s one thing he?s really improved on, to create angles and step into Bradley?s path.?
Regarding his fight against Rodriguez, Rhodes said he owed it to Pacquiao for the booking. ?I?m super excited to fight for the first time outside my home state of Oklahoma and I?m grateful to Manny for the opportunity,? he said. Rhodes said former world champion Zab Judah?s father Yoel, his own father and a friend were in his corner for the Rodriguez assignment.
Rhodes foresaw Bradley trying to counterpunch against Pacquiao. ?It wouldn?t be a walk in the park for Manny because Bradley?s tough,? he continued. ?Bradley?s not as sharp as Floyd (Mayweather) but he?s up there with the best of them as a pure boxer. He?s got good reflexes with a high level of skill. He?s gone down but he?s also gotten up.? Rhodes predicted a win by Pacquiao on a decision.
On Pacquiao losing his killer instinct as Bradley claimed, Rhodes said he doesn?t agree. ?Manny?s got to be happy to fight right, he?s got to enjoy it and have lots of fun,? he said. ?I think Manny?s composed and relaxed now. Jinkee wasn't in town, she?s due to deliver. It was extra motivation for Manny to think about his new baby. He wants to provide for the future of his family and not only that, he wants to leave behind a legacy.?
Rhodes said Pacquiao did an Ali to regain the title. ?Ali lost to Joe Frazier but came back to beat him twice,? he said. ?Manny lost to Bradley although that really wasn?t a loss. He bounced back just like Ali.?
Staying in the Philippines was an eye-opener for Rhodes. ?I loved it,? he said. ?I want to go back, this time, for a vacation, on my own. Manny invited me to go back with him and just hang out. I?ve met some wonderful Filipinos and I can?t wait to visit.? Rhodes, by the way, is single and unattached.
Photo: Pacquiao works out in front of a photo of Muhammad Ali at the Wildcard Gym. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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