Manny reprises killer moves
Manny Pacquiao has rediscovered the killer formula that transformed him into a global boxing icon and looks more determined than ever to score a resounding win over WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 15.
While training for Matthysse in General Santos City, Pacquiao is pulling out all the stops to get himself ready for what is turning out to be a make-or-break fight in his career. Pacquiao, 39, has no plans to retire in the near future but a loss to Matthysse will no doubt make him reconsider. If Pacquiao wins convincingly, he’ll be back on the throne and big money fights against Vasyl Lomachenko and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a possible rematch could be around the corner.
Pacquiao knows what’s at stake and that’s why he’s dead serious in preparing for Matthysse. “Manny has found some of the old moves of yesteryears and has probably asked the same questions to himself when he pushes himself to the limit,” said MP Promotions media director Winchell Campos. “Have I seen him this hungry for a win and is he going for a knockout the way he’s been working in the gym? No, I haven’t seen Manny this hungry in a long time and yes, he’s gunning for a knockout.”
Even if there are slow-down effects of age or wear and tear, Campos said he’s not worried. “Manny’s mental set and ring experience are the compensatory factors,” he said. Campos noted that Pacquiao has surrounded himself with four sparring partners who are known to be durable survivors.
The sparmates are unbeaten Australian lightweight George Kambosos, 25, Cebu superlightweight Jheritz Chavez, 27, Bohol superwelterweight Arnel Tinampay, 34 and Bohol superlightweight Ricky Sismundo, 31. Kambosos, Chavez and Tinampay have never lost inside the distance while Sismundo has been stopped in four of 11 losses. They’re averaging 30.5 fights, 29.25 years old, 9.75 years as a pro, 6.75 KOs, 19.75 wins, 8.75 losses and of their 35 total defeats, only four were by stoppage.
Last Saturday, Pacquiao went 12 rounds of sparring, four each with Tinampay, Chavez and Kambosos in that order. Sismundo has sparred sparingly. Chavez, who was floored in a session last week, has an 8-3-2 record, with 6 KOs. His three losses were on points, twice in Tokyo and once in Moscow. Tinampay’s record of 24-21-1, with 10 KOs, may not seem impressive but what’s remarkable is all his setbacks were by decision, including five majority and one split. Tinampay has fought in Australia, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in a career that started in 2003.
Sismundo has seen action in Russia, Canada, the US, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia since turning pro in 2006. His record is 33-11-3, with 15 KOs. Kambosos has a 14-0 record, with 8 KOs, and will face Oriental Mindoro’s J. R. Magboo in an eight-round bout in the Kuala Lumpur undercard.
Matthysse, 35, is 5-6 1/2. Pacquiao’s sparmates are around that height with Chavez and Tinampay at 5-7, Sismundo at 5-5 and Kambosos 5-9 1/2. Trainers Buboy Fernandez and Justin Fortune are focused on Pacquiao’s marksmanship in sparring. Fortune calls it target practice. Matthysse, who is slow-footed, will be a clear target for Pacquiao. What makes Matthysse dangerous is his power as he has scored 36 KOs in 39 wins, a 92 percent rate.