Secret to Manny’s win revealed

A tried and tested training drill introduced by Cuban boxing coaches was used to improve Manny Pacquiao’s balance in his fight against Hector Velazquez in Los Angeles recently.

It was the secret to Pacquiao’s sixth round demolition job, said the fighter’s close associate Clem Asencio yesterday in a phone call from General Santos City. Asencio was among a few allowed to watch Pacquiao train behind closed doors at the Wild Card Gym.

Trainer Freddie Roach kept the drill under wraps to avoid a leak to Velazquez’ camp that Pacquiao would use footwork to get the jump on the Mexican.

At the gym, Roach laid out a rubber car tire in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao stepped on the rubber portion, shadow boxed to the tune of rock music and shifted positions by hopping around like bouncing on a trampoline.

The drill is often used to improve balance and footwork by amateur fighters who are trained by Cuban coaches.

The trick prepared Pacquiao to stay on his toes throughout the fight and made it easy to use the stab-and-turn routine where he lashed out with a left straight or cross then circled to Velazquez’ left to avoid the power right counter hook. The smooth execution was contingent on nifty footwork.

Asencio said Pacquiao practiced stabbing and turning to perfection. Roach taught it to Pacquiao and the fighter worked on the move everyday during his four-week training for Velazquez in the gym.

What also made Pacquiao difficult to hit was his swaying head movement. His head shifted like a swivel and avoided direct hits, particularly from Velazquez’ jab.

As for Pacquiao’s slow start, Asencio said it was deliberate.

"Freddie told Manny not to be too aggressive at the start," disclosed Asencio. "He wanted Manny to study Velazquez’ head movements in the early rounds because he is notorious for head-butting. Velazquez tried to butt Manny several times but Manny avoided getting hit by moving his head away. He was butted once on the cheek. Luckily, it didn’t hit his eyebrow. It was only a matter of time before Manny got his rhythm."

Pacquiao displayed improvement not only in defense but also in offense where he finally put his right to good use.

Asencio said after Erik Morales lost to Zahir Raheem, Pacquiao and promoter Gary Shaw went to the Mexican’s dressing room.

"Morales was so dejected," said Asencio. "Manny and Gary were permitted to talk to him in the dressing room. Manny told Erik not to worry about their rematch because after Manny lost to Morales, he was promised a rematch by Morales and now that Morales just lost, Manny assured him the rematch will go on since that’s their gentlemen’s agreement. Morales really appreciated Manny’s gesture."

For the rematch, Pacquiao reportedly told manager Shelly Finkel his purse should not be less than $2 Million. Morales and Pacquiao will earn the same amount unlike in their first fight where the Mexican bankrolled $2.25 Million and the Filipino, $l.75 Million. There will be parity in the return bout.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s itinerary the next few months shows a lot of globetrotting. Pacquiao leaves today for Japan to watch Cebu’s Eriberto (Yukka) Gejon take on World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight champion Yutaka Niida in Yokohoma this Sunday. He returns home Monday.

Pacquiao then departs for Las Vegas on Oct. 5 to be at ringside for his brother Bobby’s fight against former world superfeatherweight titlist Carlos (Famoso) Hernandez three days later. He comes back to Manila on Oct. 10.

Pacquiao will leave for Los Angeles on Nov. 10 to start training for Morales and fly back on Dec. 12 with his US team, including manager Shelly Finkel and Roach, to celebrate his 27th birthday on Dec. 17 in General Santos City. He leaves for Los Angeles on Dec. 18 and will stay in the US until his fight against Morales on Jan. 21.

Pacquiao will likely split his training time between the Wild Card gym and the Central Boxing gym in Phoenix where Mike Tyson worked out to prepare for his one-round knockout over Clifford Etienne two years ago.

Pacquiao said it’s a big sacrifice for him to be away from his family during the Christmas and New Year holidays. But he knows he has to be ready for Morales who is coming off the loss to Raheem and will no doubt go all out for a win to keep his career alive.

The other day, Pacquiao was busy being filmed by a visiting ESPN TV crew from New York in General Santos City. The documentary of his life will be shown on the world-wide cable network in January to hype the Morales rematch.

In Las Vegas, promoter Bob Arum announced that Morales’s father Jose will neither train nor work his corner in the Pacquiao rematch. His father was blamed for the lackluster showing against Raheem because he never made his son realize the fight was slipping away.

"The debate about fathers and sons is about as long as boxing itself," wrote Norm Frauenheim of the Arizona Republic. "The theory is that fathers have a tough time being honest with their sons, especially in a close fight."