Pacquiao ready for bout vs Lucero

LOS ANGELES, California — The challenger spoke in Spanish—the better to underscore his Mexican roots—before a predominantly Mexican crowd whose passion for boxing he would surely want to feed on in the biggest fight of his career.

The reigning champ acted like an elder statesman of the sport in his brief public appearance, expressing gratitude to the backers of the discipline that has been good to him.

For the first time Thursday, IBF superbantamweight titlist Manny Pacquiao met his challenger and namesake Emmanuel Lucero during a meet-the-media affair at the parking lot of the Grand Olympic Auditorium where their title fight will be staged Saturday.

It was cordial, both showing mutual respect, so unlike the series of verbal taunts and, at times, raucous exchanges between the camps of Fernando Vargas and World Boxing Council’s number one contender Fitz Vanderpool, the main protagonists in the card put up by Main Events and HBO.

The lone Filipino world champion kept a low profile, soaked in the proceedings, accommodated fans for photo-ops and acted more amused than concerned as members of his entourage talked freely now of the hoax of a story about his contracting hepatitis B virus and the forthcoming fight hanging in the balance.

With the controversy laid to rest, his camp now focused on the task at hand of steering the hard-hitting Filipino to a successful fourth defense of the IBF crown against the dangerous Mexican.

"He’s a great champion but it’s my time," said Lucero, this time in English, before Manila media men.

It will be the biggest test of the 24-year old Mexico City native now residing in the Bronx, New York and he toiled and honed up behind a Spartan training that included more than 100 rounds of sparring to be able to mount a serious challenge against Pacquiao.

"Manny Pacquiao is a very, very good fighter but we’re ready. We know how to fight him and we’ve come to win the crown," said his trainer, Fermin Sension, from the Dominican Republic.

The man they called Carnecerio (The Butcher) because of his crippling body shots, Lucero, the current WBC Continental Americas title holder, is bringing into the fight an impressive credential of 21-0-1 (with 12 knockouts) and an equally outstanding amateur career. But whether the good-looking challenger would have what it takes to weather the power and pressure from the IBF champ remains the big question.

"I want to thank all the supporters of boxing and all my countrymen for their support," he said.

It was Warren Flagg, a representative of Murad Mohammed, Pacquiao’s American promoter, who provided the hype and fireworks on their side of the media affair although at this point it was not necessary since the card had long been sold out.

"Manny Pacquiao is a ferocious champion, he’s the Eveready Battery (for) when the bell rings he comes out to fight until the bell ends it. The fight will not go to the card, it will end by a knockout," he said.

Later in the day, the Davao-based Pacquiao went back to the Wild Card Gym at Hollywood and Vine to cap three weeks of heavy training with a light workout under American Freddie Roach and trainer Buboy Fernandez.

Pacquiao, with a record of 36-2-1 (28 knockouts) looks sharp and in the best form since his demolition of South African Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas three years ago and expects to easily make the 122-pound limit during the official weigh-in tomorrow also on the same venue.