Sporting Chance

World Boxing Council (WBC) International superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao confided to business manager Rod Nazario that he was determined to knock out Arnel Barotillo to avoid flirting with disaster at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last Saturday.

Barotillo surprised Pacquiao when he launched a furious body attack early in their scheduled 12-round bout. As the "Bicol Mauler" from Sydney banged away, Pacquiao grimaced and covered up along the ropes.

Nazario said Pacquiao admitted he would've gone down from two or three more shots to the midsection -- that's why he went for broke and threw caution to the wind starting the third round.

Barotillo, who'd been stopped only once before, paid dearly for testing Pacquiao's patience. He took a mandatory eight-count late in the third stanza then fell flat on his back from a right to the jaw in the fourth. Referee Bruce McTavish didn't bother to count as Barotillo collapsed in a heap.

"Barotillo didn't know what hit him," related McTavish. "When Barotillo got up, he asked me what punch did it. He never saw the right hand because he was looking for the left. I thought Manny was never in danger although if Barotillo survived six rounds, he had a good chance of winning on points. One thing for sure, Barotillo's no patsy."

McTavish scored the first round even. Korean judge David Chung and Filipino Danny Rodenas, subbing for a US Embassy official who withdrew at the last minute for diplomatic reasons, saw it 10-9 for Barotillo. In the second round, Chung and Rodenas had it 10-9 for Pacquiao but McTavish scored it for Barotillo.

"You didn't see much finesse in that fight, just a lot of power," said McTavish who as usual, did a good job as the third man in the ring.

Nazario said Pacquiao was in tip-top shape, weighing in at 119 1/2 pounds -- way below the superbantamweight limit of 122. Nazario noted that he set a target of 120 for Pacquiao because he looked slow at 122 in halting Reynante Jamili in two last December.

"You've got to give Manny credit -- if he's in training, he's fully concentrated," said Nazario. "He sparred against big boys like Joe Escriber and Francis Velasquez and worked himself into shape. Kung wala siya sa kondisyon, malamang bumagsak siya kay Barotillo."

Nazario noticed that Barotillo's style gave him an advantage over a southpaw like Pacquiao. "Shoot na shoot 'yung style ni Barotillo," he explained. "Wala siyang jab. 'Yung kanyang right straight, hindi maiwasan ni Manny, kasi kaliwete siya. Kanya naman namilipit si Manny sa mga body punches. Buti na lang, hindi kaya ni Barotillo 'yung lakas ni Manny who was just too strong."

Barotillo's manager Mark Pitts had the perfect fightplan -- stick close to Pacquiao and not allow him the leverage to set up his power bombs. But the problem was Barotillo had to step back to unload his own blows. When he did, Pacquiao was all over him.

Pacquiao's pony-tailed Japanese benefactor Kunio Takayanagi watched the demolition at ringside and was ecstatic. He signed Pacquiao to a five-year contract last January with Marty Elorde as broker.

Nazario said if Erik Morales relinquishes the WBC superbantamweight diadem, he'll offer to promote the fight between unbeaten No. 1 contender Michael Brodie of England and Pacquiao for the vacant throne here in May.

Under WBC rules, the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders will dispute a vacant title. Pacquiao is now ranked No. 6 in the 122-pound division. Nazario said he has asked Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Dominador Cepeda to lobby for Pacquiao to be promoted to No. 2 because of his win over Barotillo.

Brodie, 25, was described by Tony Connolly of Boxing News as "a smooth boxer and painful hitter upstairs and down." He's known as a skilled boxer-puncher with a variety of moves -- sometimes, he leads off with the hook, occasionally a right to the body but a stinging left jab is what opens up his attacks. Brodie's record is 27-0, with 18 knockouts -- six within two rounds, four inside one.

If Brodie isn't available, Nazario said he'll bring former world champion Kennedy McKinney to Manila as Pacquiao's next challenger in May.

Nazario added that he isn't ruling out a fight against WBC bantamweight champion Veerapol Sahaprom of Thailand. But he said if Gerry Peñalosa is interested in facing Veerapol, Pacquiao will look elsewhere for a title shot.

Veerapol is set to stake his crown against Adan Vargas of Mexico in Bangkok on March 11. Both Nazario and Peñalosa's manager Rudy Salud plan to watch the fight at ringside.

Nazario said he's convinced there's no fighter -- in either the bantamweight or super- bantamweight division -- stronger and deadlier than Pacquiao. He's probably right.