Wednesday, November 05, 2008 A hero’s fighting chance
AFTER his eight-round sparring session with Filipino boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao last week at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, up and rising British fighter Amir Khan believes that Pacquiao may possess the arsenal that can conquer the legendary Oscar De La Hoya.
“Manny’s in great shape—very explosive, very fast, you don’t know where his punches are coming from. He’s got a good chance to beat Oscar,” the 21-year-old erstwhile Olympian told the LA Times.
Khan, who started training at the Wild Card gym last month for the guidance of renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach, believes that Pacquiao’s speed and power will be his advantage in his Dec. 6 immense war with the taller and bigger De La Hoya.
“Manny’s so sharp and quick. Speed is power,” said Khan. “Manny’s got a good chin to handle what Oscar throws at him.
He’ll just be too explosive for Oscar, and he’s a big puncher himself.”
Appropriate
Khan also believes that his sparring with the 29-year-old World Boxing Council lightweight champion will be a good simulation of De La Hoya. He has a 5-foot-11 body frame and long reach.
“I’m very quick, with a good jab like Oscar, and I’m taller than Manny, like Oscar,” explained Khan. “It’ll make Manny think about what’s coming.”
Outcome
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, Roach, was amazed at how good the outcome of the Filipino champion and Khan’s sparring session was.
He believes that both boxers will benefit from their eight-round sparring session.
“You should see the sparring,” said Roach in a report posted at Fightfan.com. “It’s good work for Manny, and a great confidence builder for Khan. His height and reach is a challenge for Manny, and Amir is such a great athlete. He’s been doing really well in the sparring,” he added.
Khan (18-1, 14 KO’s), who suffered his first professional boxing career loss in the hands of the undefeated Columbian Breidis Prescott (20-0, 18 KO’s), will also be seeing action on Dec. 6 in London. He will be facing Ireland’s Oisin Fagan (22-5, 13 KO’s). (EKA)
