Careless Manny won’t forget Serik

It was a lesson that International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao will never forget.

Leaving himself open as he powdered Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov with a flurry of punches, Pacquiao was tagged by a counter right hook and tumbled to the canvas in the fourth round of their non-title brawl at the Luneta last Saturday night.

Pacquiao, more embarrassed than hurt, got up with little difficulty. He took referee Silvestre Abainza’s mandatory eight-count sheepishly. When Abainza signaled to resume action, Pacquiao tore into the rugged Kazakh as if to show he was far from shaken. A round later, Pacquiao went for the kill, dropping Yeshmagambetov twice. Abainza rescued the helpless visitor at 1:32 of the fifth as a crowd of at least 50,000 roared.

"Nabigla si Manny," recounted Pacquiao’s trainer and chief cornerman Buboy Fernandez. "‘Di siya nasaktan. Inamin naman niya na naging overconfident siya. Sa totoo lang, dapat noong second round, tapos na ang laban. Dinala lang ni Manny yung kalaban kasi kailangan mabanat siya–three rounds lang nga ang nalabanan niya sa last 16 months."

In the first round, Pacquiao unleashed a jarring left straight that decked Yeshmagambetov for an eight-count. But the 24-year-old southpaw held back, allowing the Kazakh to escape an early dismissal. Pacquiao appeared to pull his punches in the second and in the third, began to use the double left straight that he worked on as a new weapon in the gym. He never expected Yeshmagambetov to score a knockdown although he was warned not to take him lightly.

Fernandez said before the bout, Abainza told him to be wary of Yeshmagambetov. Abainza worked a Yeshmagambetov fight in Indonesia two years ago and said the Kazakh was a tough cookie. "Sabi ni Abainza, matapang at matutulis ang mga suntok," noted Fernandez. "Sa unang tingin, feeling ko may tinatago yung Serik. Kanya, every round, sinabi ko kay Manny, mag-ingat siya, huwag mag-kompyansa."

Yeshmagambetov had nothing to be ashamed of despite kissing the canvas thrice. "We promised a good fight and we made good on our promise," said the Kazakh’s Australian agent Danny Leigh. "He may not be as good as Manny but he gave a heckuva fight. Knocking down Manny was a feat in itself."

Only three fighters had floored Pacquiao before Saturday night. Rustico Torrecampo, Medgeon 3-K Battery, and Nadel Hussein did the trick previously.

Pacquiao, who will pay a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Lito Atienza at the City Hall this morning, seemed to be rusty in the ring. His timing was off and his rhythm, a bit out of tune.

"Hindi ako kontento sa kilos niya," said Pacquiao’s business agent Rod Nazario. "Naging careless siya. Wala sa timing. Lesson itong nangyari para sa kanya."

Nazario said Pacquiao’s showing wasn’t as convincing as it was supposed to be. He’ll book Pacquiao another outing as a featherweight before arranging the megabuck duel with Marco Antonio Barrera, acknowledged as the world’s No. 1 fighter in the 126-pound division.

Fernandez said Pacquiao will likely stake his IBF 122-pound crown in May, possibly in the US. Then, he’ll take on a rated featherweight, perhaps Paulie Ayala, before challenging Barrera.

"Si Barrera ang kanyang hinahabol," said Fernandez. "Lamang tayo kay Barrera. Kung insayado si Manny, wala tayong talo. Open si Barrera at madaling tamaan. Alam naman natin, kung sino ang tamaan ni Manny, babagsak. Nakita ko sa laban kay Serik, lumakas pa si Manny kasi kaya niya yung timbang ng featherweight."

What spoiled the night for the Pacquiao family was the shocking loss of Manny’s younger brother Bobby in the undercard. Blowing a huge lead on points, Bobby went down thrice and lost to Baby Lorona, Jr. on an automatic knockout at 0:48 of the seventh round.

The First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Mayor Atienza watched the fights at the Quirino Grandstand. Other prominent figures who witnessed the hostilities were Sen. Ramon Revilla, Sen. Robert Jaworski, Sen. Robert Barbers, Rep. Ed Zialcita, Makati Mayor Jojo Binay, Manila Vice Mayor Lacuna, Makati Vice Mayor Mercardo, Councilor Kim Atienza, PAGCOR chairman Ephraim Genuino, former Sen. Eva Estrada Kalaw, Dr. Pablo Olivarez, former Games and Amusements Board chairman Dominador Cepeda, Manila Youth and Sports Council chairman Ali Atienza, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Philip Juico, movie actor Ruel Vernal, former basketball star Dave Brodett, and the late Flash Elorde’s widow Laura.

After the fight, Pacquiao went straight to his unit at the Dona Josefa Apartments on Harrison and spent the rest of the night talking with his relatives, friends, and handlers. He’s expected to fly back to Davao City where he has a home on Wednesday.

Promoter Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde, Jr. promised Pacquiao two round-trip tickets to Hong Kong as a bonus for a knockout win. Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee will use the tickets for another honeymoon.

As for Yeshmagambetov, he’ll go back to his wife and one-year-old son in Kazakhstan with his reputation as a fearless fighter intact and a cool $8,000 purse. He never backed off from Pacquiao despite a huge lump that closed his left eye shut and blood gushing from his mouth.

If Pacquiao looked for a workout to shake the rust from his armor, he got more than he bargained for against Yeshmagambetov.