Sparmate ready to play Bradley for Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Oklahoma fighter Lydell (Hackman) Rhodes said the other day he’s ready to spar with Manny Pacquiao in General Santos City and welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the crusade to regain the WBO welterweight championship from Timothy Bradley.

Rhodes arrived in Manila from the US last Sunday and flew to General Santos City the next day. He was contracted by Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz to spar with Pacquiao in preparing for the Bradley bout in Las Vegas on April 12. Rhodes was recommended to Koncz by boxing matchmakers Bruce Trampler and Sean Gibbons. The contract was finalized with Rhodes’ manager Bobby Dobbs.

“It’s an honor to work with Manny,” said the 26-year-old Rhodes who like Bradley, is unbeaten with a 19-0 record, including nine KOs. “I’ll be glad to do what I can as a sparring partner. I’ve got the lateral movement and footwork to mimic Bradley. I think that’s what Bradley will do against Manny, he’ll stick and run. I don’t know what Manny’s gameplan is. He’ll probably attack from the start and cut the ring off. So my job is to play Bradley. I’ll do what Bradley is likely to do during the fight.”

Rhodes said he’s a big Pacquiao fan. “As a person, I think Manny’s a great man who does a lot for his country,” he said. “I see that he devotes a lot of time to prayer and God. He helps poor people. I know he’s got a big heart. For someone who has everything you can want, he’s very prayerful and humble. As an athlete, he’s one of the best out there. He punches hard, he’s so quick, he’s got excellent footwork. I hope to learn a lot about boxing from him. I’ve met Freddie (Roach) a few times in Las Vegas. I’m not sure if he’s aware that I’m in General Santos City. I’m told he’s arriving (tomorrow). I’m excited to work with Manny and Freddie because they’re two of the best in the business. Whatever they want me to do as a sparring partner, I’ll do my best to live up to their expectations.”

Rhodes said his mixed martial arts background has helped in his boxing career. “I’ve done MMA both as an amateur and pro,” he said. “It’s more gritty than boxing because it involves wrestling, kicking and all that. MMA has helped me a lot as a boxer. MMA is a tough sport and if you can survive MMA, you can survive boxing. If you can take the punishment in MMA, you can take the punishment in boxing.”

Rhodes said he trained under Floyd Mayweather, Sr. for 13 of his 19 fights over two years. “I would go to Las Vegas and train with him,” he said. “From my fourth up to my 16th fight, we were together. The basic thing I learned from him was not to get hit. He’s all about defense. He also advised me on life outside the ring, like what to do after boxing, taking care of your earnings and starting a business or investing in something that will grow. He was like a father figure to me. I also met Floyd, Jr. and I think he’s real cool. He’s always encouraged and advised me in my boxing career.”

Rhodes said he’s looking forward to Pacquiao and Mayweather finally squaring off. “That will be the fight of the century,” he said. “I hope it happens but I don’t know if it will because Top Rank and Golden Boy are involved. If it happens, I won’t cheer for either guy. I don’t cheer for anyone in boxing. I just appreciate what each fighter brings to the ring. It’ll be a battle of styles. You’ve got a guy who does pure boxing, who’s smooth and hard to hit and you’ve got a guy who’s an explosive puncher, who’ll come right at you with both fists. I think if they fight 10 times, it’ll be 50-50, meaning Floyd will win five and Manny will win five. That’s how evenly matched I think they are. I can see them fighting a trilogy with every fight a close one. They’re two of the best fighters ever.”

Rhodes, who has never fought outside his home state of Oklahoma, said he’s enjoying his stay in the Philippines. A late bloomer, he made his pro debut at the age of 23 and has been busy logging fights. Last year, Rhodes saw action in eight bouts. He has scored four first-round knockouts and the closest he came to losing was when he beat Ghana’s Yakubu Amidu on a split decision for the vacant USBA Southern Region lightweight title in Tulsa last April. The fight against Amidu was the first and only 10-rounder so far in Rhodes’ career.

Roach is flying in alone from Macau tomorrow. He will work Chinese flyweight Zou Shiming’s corner in an eight-round fight against Thailand’s Yokthong Kokietgym at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Resort Macau tonight. The referee for the fight is Filipino lawyer Danrex Tapdasan and two Filipinos Salven Lagumbay and Edward Ligas are assigned as judges. The third judge is Canada’s Sylvain Leblanc.