Sunday, October 19, 2008 Roach lines up two undefeated boxers to spar with Pacman
AFTER beating up his sparring mate Aaron Robinson in his latest session in preparation for his Dec. 6 mega bout against the legendary Oscar De La Hoya, Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will now face more talented sparring partners.
Instead of facing Pacquiao, Robinson was backpedaling when he was hit by the devastating body shots of the Filipino champion.
“He went for the body and the guy ran,” Roach said in a report posted at boxingscene.com.
Because Robinson failed to engage Pacquiao in a heated exchange, his first day of sparring with the Pinoy icon turned out to be his last.
Next week, Pacquiao will be pitted in his sparring sessions against undefeated fighters, the North American Boxing Federation light middleweight champion Yuri Foreman (25-0, 8 KOs) and North American Boxing Association US light welterweight titlist Marvin Cordova Jr. (20-0,11 KO’s).
Foreman stands at 5-foot- inches and has a reach of 71 inches, while Cordova is 5-foot- 9 and has a 70-inch reach.
De La Hoya is 5-foot-10 a half inches tall with a 73-inch reach advantage, while the Filipino hero is four inches shorter and only has a 67-inch reach.
Rashad Halloway (9-1, 5 KOs), Pacquiao’s light middleweight sparring partner last Tuesday, will be retained.
According to Pacquiao’s famed trainer Freddie Roach, Halloway is the perfect copy of the six-division world champion and will let him spar with Pacquiao against next week.
“He is the best guy”, Roach told boxingscene.com, “He is perfect and I’m saving him for next week.” (EKA)
