American undefeated lightweight boxer Lydell Rhodes got a taste of boxing legend and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao’s ferocity during a four-round sparring session on Tuesday afternoon.
Rhodes stepped out of the ring with a bloody nose but he vowed to perform better on the next sparring session on Thursday against the world’s lone eight-division boxing champion.
“He’s so fast. I couldn’t see where his punches came from. He threw lots of combinations and he can knock down his opponents with any of his punch,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes, who holds a 19-0 record, was hired as one of Pacquiao’s sparring mates for his ability to simulate Timothy Bradley’s fighting style.
Aside from Pacquiao’s blinding speed, what amazed Rhodes the most was the fighting congressman’s power and ring savvy.
“He’s a complete fighter. He has the speed, power and brain. He’s a flyweight who punches like a middleweight,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes admitted that Pacquiao’s hard work, discipline in training and ring achievements have inspired him a lot.
“It is a great opportunity for me to work with Manny Pacquiao. His ring achievements and by just seeing how hard he trains for the fight motivates me,” Rhodes admitted.
Rhodes revealed that he is being paid 1,000 USD per week as sparring partner of Pacquiao.
“On top of that, Coach Freddie Roach offered me a 1,500 USD bonus if I can knock down Manny Pacquiao during sparring session,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes, however, admitted that sending the Filipino ring icon to the canvass would be a tough task.
“Knocking him down is a very hard task to do right now. He fights smart and I was surprised by his strength and the level of his conditioning. I can say he’s ready if the fight is held tomorrow,” Rhodes said.
Trainer Nonoy Neri, however, was modest in describing their prized ward.
“Our Filipino ring icon is just around 70 percent ready. We need to polish his jab and enhance his speed. But what he needs right now is just a minor adjustment,” Neri said.
Neri added that Rhodes was lucky that Pacquiao did not unleash his strength and power during the sparring session.
Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/146299/us-boxer-lydell-rhodes-impressed
Filipino ring star Manny Pacquiao was dominant and impressive in his one-sided demolition of Brandon Rios in his comeback fight last year in Macau.
But for Gerry Peñalosa, Pacquiao's close friend and associate, the fighting congressman from Sarangani Province still needs to prove that he is truly back in his old deadly form when he battles his former tormentor Tim Bradley in an expected grudge rematch on April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"His (Pacquiao) speed and power are there but he still lacks one element that made us adore him - his killer instict. That was not evident in his fight against Rios. Is Pacquiao back in his old self? The answer depends on how he fares against Bradley. That is something he needs to prove," said Peñalosa.
Peñalosa, a former two-time world champion, was chanced upon by The Freeman during a training session of Pacquiao last Friday at the Pacman Wildcard Gym in General Santos City.
Peñalosa said the positive thing is that Pacquiao is very much focused for his return bout with Bradley, seeking to prove that he was deprived of a clear victory during their first encounter.
"He's very focused in his rematch with Bradley. He lost during their first fight and it's a big challenge for him. He also takes notice of all the things Bradley had said against him. It's an added motivation for him," said Peñalosa. "The way I see things, I feel that Pacquiao won't let the judges decide the fight. He's going for no less than a knockout win."
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During their previous meeting two years ago, Bradley won by a controversial decision in a match many perceived was dominated by Pacquiao.
Even though he's reluctant to make any predictions, Pacquiao has indicated that his mindset really is to seek redemption against Bradley.
"We will get even," said the former eight-division world champion, who is looking for a decisive victory that could probably catapult him to a superbout with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.
http://www.philstar.com/cebu-sports/2014/02/26/1294692/penalosa-says-pacquiao-will-go-knockout-win
In the third and final part of my “On The Ropes” interview with IBF super middleweight champion, Carl Froch, I discuss with him the other big rematch set to happen this year, Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley. Besides giving his view of Pacquiao’s future, Carl talks about his own rematch, and breaks down how he thinks the second fight with George Groves will go. Additionally Froch gives his thoughts on what he thinks this fight will do for his legacy, and what he believes could be next if he comes away with a victory. Here is what Carl Froch had to say.
JENNA J:
Carl, your fight with Groves is not the only big rematch this year, Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley will meet again in April, and some people are saying that if Pacquiao loses this rematch, he should retire. What do you think about it?
CARL FROCH:
Yeah, it’s a fair comment, he’s late on in his career. What is he, thirty seven years old, thirty eight? He’s in the twilight years and if he loses now in the rematch to somebody that he’s already lost against then maybe the writing is on the wall, he’ll decide that, see how the rematch goes first, see how the fight goes. But yeah, it’s a fair comment to make.
JENNA J:
How do you think it’s gonna go? Do you have any thoughts on that rematch?
CARL FROCH:
What happened? Did Bradley outwork him and beat him on points?
JENNA J:
Well, he did better in the second half of the fight but most people said it was a pretty bad decision, that Pacquiao should have gotten the call.
CARL FROCH:
So it was a close fight that could have gone either way? Oh yeah, I remember hearing about the controversy about the bad decision and I can remember watching the highlights, but highlights are highlights aren’t they, they’re not always realistic, and then I thought to myself, well maybe it wasn’t the great train robbery was it? Let’s be honest. It was one of them that could have gone either way so you never know. He might pull it off again, Bradley, but he may just come unstuck, who knows.
I don’t really have a major opinion on it, but the question you asked was, would Manny Pacquiao consider retirement if he gets beat? He probably would do, he probably would consider retirement because he’s had a couple of losses now late on in his career and where would he go if he lost to Bradley again? He will probably want to beat Bradley and then get that fight that’s never happened against Mayweather, and I couldn’t see that happening if he lost to Bradley.
Read More: http://otrboxingradio.com/?p=3325
Manny Pacquiao “is in better shape” than American sparring partner Haskell Rhodes thought, as the Filipino ring icon ramps up his preparation for his April rematch against Timothy Bradley Jr..
The two went through four rounds of sparring on Tuesday in General Santos City, with Rhodes coming away impressed, according to a report by GMA News’ Mav Gonzales.
“It was good. Manny is in better shape than I thought he’d be. It was a good surprise," said Rhodes. "We have a little bit of a gameplan. We’re making some more adjustments. We’re doing very well.”
Rhodes was brought in to replicate a lot of what Bradley does. “Just like Bradley, I have the same build and height. But I say I’m faster. We both have good movement. I do a lot of things similar to Bradley,” he added.
The 26-year-old boasts of a perfect 19-0 record so far, though he hasn’t fought any big names yet.
Pacquiao lost a controversial bout to Bradley Jr. back in 2012 via split decision. Their rematch is set for April 12 (April 13, PHL time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350147/sports/boxing/pacquiao-in-better-shape-than-expected-says-sparring-partner
Boxing great Joe Louis once said of his opponent: "He can run, but he can't hide."
This famous line could well be applied to the coming Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley grudge fight where the Filipino ring hero will be eyeing a knockout victory not only to avenge his disputed split decision loss, but, likewise, recapture the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship the undefeated American took away from him, thanks to what promoter Bob Arum referred to as the "Three Blind Mice."
No less than Pacquiao's chief trainer has repeatedly pronounced won't be satisfied that his pupil of 13 years will settle for just an impressive win even as he vowed prepare the eight-division champion put the elusive to sleep in their 12-round showdown April 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
"Our goal is to win by KO, nothing less, " Roach reaffirmed yesterday. "We will decide the outcome of the fight and not the judges."
Roach's statement actually echoed that of assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, who oversaw the preparation since Pacquiao came back from the two-city, one-week media tour in Los Angeles and New York early this month.
"Si Manny naman din ay nagpahayag na kailangan mapatsulog ang kalaban. Marami na ksasi siyang naririnig na insults at patutsada galling kay Bradley na hindi na niya nagugustuhan (Manny himself stated the need to win by KO. He's been receiving so many teasing and insulting statements coming from Bradley which he doesn't like)," Fernandez said lasts Friday.
"Sabi nga niya sa amin, kapag nag-decide na tumakbo muli si Bradley gaya nang ginawa niya noong unang laban, nakahanda siyang humabol nang humabol at kapag nakipagpalitan, pupitaktihin siya ng suntok," Fernandcez related.
To accomplish the mission, the 52-year-old five-time Trainer of the Year, who just arrived in General Santos City three days ago, has scheduled a thrice a week sparring sessions until Team Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles probably a week from now.
http://philboxing.com/news/column-283-92371.html
Manny Pacquiao plunged into sparring yesterday, going four rounds with undefeated US fighter Lydell Rhodes in his General Santos City training headquarters.
Under the supervision of Freddie Roach, who arrived there on Monday to preside over the preparation, Pacquiao impressed the Hall of Fame trainer in a report relayed to the Bulletin by Canadian Mike Koncz.
Roach and Pacquiao are getting ready for the April 12 rematch with Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and they’d be spending the next few weeks mapping out the gameplan needed to exact payback.
Bradley beat Pacquiao on a controversial split decision in June 2012 but rebounded strongly by winning his next two fights against topnotch opposition.
After defeating Pacquiao, Bradley took on Ruslan Provodnikov, survived the Russian’s fierce aggression en route to a well-deserved split verdict.
In his last outing, Bradley outpointed Juan Manuel Marquez, the Mexican counter-puncher who knocked Pacquiao out cold in late-2012.
Pacquiao is coming off a lopsided win over Brandon Rios in Macau.
http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/02/smiles-off-for-mp-rhodes/
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach reunited with Manny Pacquiao yesterday in General Santos as the dynamic duo laid the groundwork for the rematch with Tim Bradley scheduled April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Roach arrived in the country Sunday night from Macau and flew to General Santos yesterday morning and they immediately hit it off by going 13 rounds with the punch mitts.
Pacquiao’s buildup steps up a notch today when he kicks off the sparring session against unbeaten US puncher Lydell Rhodes, accoridng to Roach.
Pacquiao, who scored a convincing decision win over Brandon Rios in his last fight in Macau late last year, will probably spar for a few rounds, perhaps three or four, to get the hang of it.
Pacquiao has actually been working out the past two weeks under the watchful eyes of local trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri knowing that Roach will be showing up at the gym after his work with Chinese Olympic legend Zou Shiming in Macau over the weekend.
It could not be determined when exactly Pacquiao and Roach will head to the Wild Card in Hollywood and Roach said they can afford to stay until the third week of March.
“We can do four weeks here and three weeks in Los Angeles and that would be fine,” said Roach after the workout although Top Rank big boss Bob Arum wants them to begin the Wild Card phase of the training by the second week of March to coincide with the showing of the first episode of the HBO 24/7 series.
“But it depends on Manny,” said Roach, who celebrates his 54th birthday on March 5.
If Pacquiao decides to extend his training in General Santos City, Roach said he will bring in another sparmate, veteran Steve Forbes.
More: http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/02/pacquiao-roach-meet-up/#.UxA4ICsW3YV
"Fighter if the Decade" Manny Pacquiao sparred four rounds with undefeated Lydell Rhodes (1909, 9KO's) at the Pacman Wild Card Gym in his hometown of General Santos City on Tuesday under the watchful eye of trainer Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz told the Manila Standard that Pacquiao "looked good" against the shifty Rhodes, a one-time protege of Floyd Mayweather Sr, father and trainer of unbeaten pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Koncz described the first day of sparring and Pacquiao's regular routine as "a tremendous workout."
His seriousness in training for the much-awaited rematch with WBO welterweight champion Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 12, prompted Pacquiao to beg-off from standing as principal sponsor at the wedding of "Bai" Elorde, grandson of the late world junior lightweight champion Gabriel "Flash" Elorde in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.
Koncz said Pacquiao had requested close friend and Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson to represent him at the wedding.
Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-92356.html
“Trainer of the Year” Freddie Roach buckled down to work with ”Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao at his training camp in General Santos City on Monday and was pleased about the condition of his prized possession.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the Manila Standard that Roach was “very happy” and that Pacquiao went 13 rounds on the punch-mitts with Roach and may begin sparring on Tuesday with undefeated former Floyd Mayweather Sr protege Lydell Rhodes (19-0, 9 KO’s).
Roach told the Manila Standard on his arrival from Macau on Sunday that Miguel Cotto would train at the Pacman Wild Card Gym should Pacquiao decide to hold his training camp in his hometown for four weeks which was the original plan. Otherwise if Pacquiao decides to leave for the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles earlier, Cotto would join him there.
The celebrated trainer dismissed reports that Cotto would spar with Pacquiao who scored a 12th round TKO over the Puerto Rican in November 2011 pointing out that the former three division champion Cotto has moved up in weight and is now fighting at 160 pounds and will challenge middleweight champion Sergio Martinez of Argentina ar New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 7.
Roach also confirmed a Standard story last week that former world light welterweight champion Kendall Holt who lost his title to Bradley by a unanimous decision despite dropping the undefeated Bradley once in round one and once more in round twelve, would be among Pacquiao’s sparring partners in Los Angeles.
Roach said he plans to train Pacquiao to be more aggressive in his April 12 rematch with Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel in Las Vegas and indicated while he won’t go looking for a knockout he will take it if he gets an opening.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz who arrived with Roach from Macau told us that Pacquiao’s training had been going well and it will “step up a notch now that Freddie is here.”
Koncz said in his mind “nothing short of a knockout will do” to help Pacquiao regain his stature as an elite fighter.
Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-92316.html
Manny Pacquiao's chief trainer Freddie Roach arrived in General Santos Monday and readily took over from assistant Buboy Fernandez in presiding over his prized pupil's training chores at the Pacman Wild Card Gym.
Roach arrived Sunday in Manila with Pacquiao's business consultant Mike Koncz from Macau then took a flight to GenSan early Monday morning at a time when the Filipino eight-division world champion was doing his regular 30-minute roadwork at the Acharon Sports Complex oval.
The duo did the mitts for several rounds later in the afternoon before overseeing Pacquiao worked with the bags, the double end and speed balls, skip rope and light limbering exercises.
Pacquiao has been training since early February for his coming rematch with undefeated American holder of the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt Timothy Bradley set April 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The arrival of Roach, assistant trainer Nonoy Neri, also from Macau where three fighters under the MP Promotions won all via stoppage, completed the training staff along with Buboy and brother Roger "Haplas," who, for nearly three weeks, had been taking charge of preparations.
"Ayos naman, mukha namang satisfied si coach Freddie sa nakita niyang progreso ng training camp (Everything looked okay. I think coach Freddie is satisfied with the progress of the training camp,)" Buboy told this writer via phone while Roach and Pacquiao were doing the gym chores.
"We did naman what we're supposed to do, prepare Manny for an expected rigorous preparation regimen that coach Freddie will implement.
"Manny's ready for whatever he will undergo in his preparations."
"Our order was to get Manny ready, physically and mentally before plunging into the nitty-gritty of preparations and he is," Buboy observed. "Today, coach Freddie merely observed the gains we had just achieved in the initial three weeks of training. Siguro bukas, medyo mabigat na."
"Ang sabi sa amin ihanda si Manny sa anumang mangyayari, so from the start, we prepared him to run after Bradley should the champ resorts to the way he fought us two years ago, " Buboy said.
"If he opts to fight by mixing it up, Manny will also be ready for that. Basta ang bottom line is kelangan manalo kami ng knockout," he said. "Sio, ysun ang gagawin naming ensayo."
"Even Manny naman, sinabi kelangan manalo ng KO at handa siya na mangyari yun. Kaya naman sa body language niya sa ensayo sa early stage pa lang, talaga namang pukpok," he said. "Manny really is very determined to win by KO at bawiin ang koronang alam naman nating ninakaw sa kanya."
One other thing that drives Pacquiao to train as hard as he can is the teasing and insults the camp of Bradley have been throwing his way. "Galit na si Manny sa mga naririning niya kaya besides winning back the title, he also wants a sweeter revenge sa mga sinasabi ng kamp ni Bradley. And when he's mad, something bad to his rival is sure to happen," Buboy assured. "At pati kami, galit din."
Buboy said members of the training team have yet to meet and talk of the plans and strategy as they had barely seen each other since Roach arrived. "Maybe tonight Freddie will call us and chart what will be the course of training sessions."
He said sparring might start this week since one of his sparring mates, Lydell Rhodes, unbeaten in 19 bouts, has been in GenSan since Sunday last week.
More: http://philboxing.com/news/story-92315.html
