Pacquiao to shock Senrima tonight

World Boxing Council (WBC) International superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao has a few surprises in store for challenger Tetsutora Senrima in their scheduled 12-round title bout at the Ynares Center in Antipolo tonight.

Make it three surprises.

First, Pacquiao plans to introduce a short, chopping right cross that he picked up from watching Felix Trinidad dispose of Fernando Vargas in their world junior middleweight unification title bout last December.

Second, he plans to unravel a three-punch combination of a jab, straight, and dig to the side of the body using the left hand. It’ll also be the first time he’ll use the triple threat. Pacquiao says he learned it from studying tapes of Julio Cesar Chavez in action.

And third, he plans to throw a 1-2 combination of a left jab to the face and a right straight to the body, just like the stylish Chatchai Sasakul whom he dethroned as WBC flyweight champion on an eighth round knockout in 1998.

Pacquiao hasn’t used the three weapons before so Senrima is in for a shock.

For two months, Pacquiao worked doubly hard in near seclusion in Davao City, mastering a new repertoire of killer blows, to prepare for Senrima, born in Japan to North Korean parents. He left his wife Jinky, who gave birth to their first child, Manny Jr., two weeks ago, in General Santos City to concentrate on his training.

The daily routine was backbreaking. At dawn, he jogged 40 to 45 minutes on a seven-kilometer stretch in rolling terrain outside Davao City. Then, he punished himself in the gym for hours, morning and afternoon, hardening his stomach muscles and sparring with the likes of Fernando Montilla, Rod (Kid) Cache, and Sammy Sordilla. At 8 p.m., Pacquiao went to sleep.

Pacquiao, the WBC’s No. 3 contender, said he can’t afford to lose to Senrima. He’s only a win away from a crack at the WBC crown held by Willie Jorrin of Sacramento. A loss could be fatal.

That’s why Pacquiao was uncompromising in his Spartan regimen. That’s also why he brought in new trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri to take him to the next level. "Handang handa na ako," declared Pacquiao yesterday.

Senrima, whose real name is Chulho Kan, boasted he would knock out Pacquiao in two rounds. Pacquiao shrugged it off — he’ll let his fists do the talking in the ring.

But it won’t be easy disposing of the durable Kobe-based challenger who is managed by the husband-and-wife team of Keitoh and Chong-mi Senrima. Keitoh was a former Japan middleweight champion. The couple will work Senrima’s corner tonight.

Senrima, 31, has never been knocked out in compiling a 19-4-3 record, including 10 KOs. He has won 11 of his last 12 fights. Against Filipino Archie Ano-os a year ago, Senrima got up from a fourth round knockdown to score a dramatic stoppage in the seventh. A counter right cross to the jaw dropped Ano-os like a sack of potatoes and although he managed to beat the count, was in no condition to continue.

"Matibay siya at may lakas," noted Pacquiao. "Titingnan natin kung kaya niya ang mga bagong suntok ko."