Former fighters back southpaw’s power punch
Filipino’s idol Villamor and Thai adversary Sasakul are confident Mayweather will be beaten in Las Vegas this weekend
Asouthpaw and a heavy puncher, he could have easily been a prototype of the Filipino boxer who would become a legendary figure in the sport.
In fact, Edito ‘Ala’ Villamor was the boxer Manny Pacquiao idolised growing up and who inspired him to become a boxer. When Villamor’s life story was made into a radio drama, Pacquiao was one of the avid listeners of the programme.
By the time Villamor (29-2-1 with 26 KOs) decided to hang up his gloves for good due to injury in 1996, Pacquiao was already talking baby steps towards becoming one of the world’s most revered boxing champions.
Before Pacquiao goes into the ring for the biggest fight of his career against Floyd Mayweather In Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning UAE time), Villamor — now one of the Philippines’ most successful professional boxing trainers under the ALA Boxing Club — did not miss the chance to visit his former fan to extend his wishes and take a few selfies with Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Winning a given
“Pacquiao will win either by decision or knockout,” Villamor told Gulf News. “For this fight, I can see how strong his dedication is towards his training and preparation so he can show boxing fans around the world a great boxing showdown.”
He added: “We [boxers] are always grateful to him because he made Philippines boxing and Filipino boxers to be known worldwide. It’s all because of him.”
A former foe, Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand, also expects Pacquiao to come out the winner. Sasakul, who was at the Wild Card Gym, confessed that he underestimated Pacquiao and paid the price when he got knocked out in the eighth round of their WBC flyweight title showdown in 1998, when the Filipino won his first belt.
Sasakul had been a celebrated champion in Thailand until he was beaten by a then unknown Pacquiao in front of a stunned Thai home crowd.
Without hesitation, Sasakul said Mayweather will also make the same mistake. Pacquiao, he said, is most dangerous when his opponents underestimate him.
Milan Melindo, the current WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight champion, who is training at the Wild Card Gym under Villamor, said Pacquiao’s unorthodox stance could be a problem for Mayweather.
“Pacquiao is a southpaw while Mayweather is an orthodox boxer, so there will be plenty of opportunities for him to unleash his vaunted left. Pacquiao should go for power shots to the body, because Mayweather’s head will be a difficult target,” Melindo said.
Meanwhile, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez told Gulf News that Pacquiao is in tip-top shape for the showdown. “He is 110 per cent ready to win the fight,” said Fernandez. “He is very well prepared and conditioned.”