Maliban sa beteranong si Freddie Norwood, kinuha rin ni American trainer Freddie Roach ang bigating si light welterweight Victor Ortiz bilang sparring mate ni Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Sinabi ni Roach na ang pagkuha niya kina Norwood at Ortiz ay bilang preparasyon sa mabibigat na suntok ni Mexican-American world lightweight champion David Diaz.
“I’d say they’ll be a lot stronger with a better punch, but I think Manny will be able to handle it,” wika ni Roach sa sparring session ng 29-anyos na si Pacquiao, ang bagong World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight titlist, kina Norwood at Ortiz. “He’s always boxed bigger guys in the gym with the likes of Victor Ortiz who’s a 140-pounder Manny will be sparring with for this fight.”
Ang 21-anyos na si Ortiz ay 21-1-1 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 16 KOs, samantalang dala naman ng 38-anyos na si Norwood, tu-malo kay Juan Manuel Mar-quez noong Setyembre 11 ng 1999 para sa featherweight crown, ang 42-2 (42 KOs).
Ayon kay Roach, si Ortiz ay mas malakas sa 31-anyos na si David, nakatakdang hamunin ni Pacquiao para sa suot nitong WBC lightweight belt sa Hunyo 28 sa Man-dalay Bay Resort & Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Victor is great work for us and I believe he’s stronger than David Diaz. We’re trying to get Freddie Norwood to come over to work on some slickness and speed… so we’ll have all our bases covered with our sparring and such,” ani Roach.
Kumpiyansa ang 48-anyos na mentor na makakaya ni Pacquiao na labanan si Diaz sa ligthweight matapos magkampeon sa flyweight, super bantamweight at super featherweight division.
“Yes he’s durable and has a good chin. The thing is we can out box this guy and be smart about it, and we can exchange with the guy which is giving him a chance. I don’t want to take away Manny’s explosiveness but we’ll be a little more technical in this fight,” wika ni Roach. (Russell Cadayona)