Si Pacquiao ang nagpumilit

LOS ANGELES –Mismong si Manny Pacquiao ang nagpilit na trabahuhin ang kanyang left hook na nagpabagsak kay Ricky Hatton noong Sabado sa MGMGrand Arena sa Las Vegas.

“We worked on different combinations in training but throwing that left-hook, right-hook combination was my idea,” ani Pacquiao na nagkukuwento habang nana-nanghalian sa kanyang La Palazzo apartment.

Sa harap ng mediamen at ng kanyang asawang si Jinkee habang nilalasap ang pagkain ng paboritong ulam na tinolang manok, binalikan ni Pacquiao ang mga naganap sa laban.

“The left hook that finished him off was so powerful I felt the electricity up to my elbow. But that was the punch that I thought, and told coach Freddie (Roach), could win the fight,” wika ni Pacquiao.

At sa pagitan ng pagsubo, tatayo ito mula sa kinauupuan at imumuwestra ang kombinasyong naging susi sa kanyang tagumpay.

Ayon kay Pacquiao, gusto ni Roach na trabahuhin ang kanyang right hook, left uppercut o right-hook,l eft-straight combinations, ngunit may mas magandang ideya ngayon ang pinakamagaling na boxer sa buong mundo.

“I told him there was a tendency for him to be open when throwing that uppercut. So I asked him why don’t we try the double-hook combination. That way, both sides of my face are covered,” aniya.

Idinagdag ni Pacquiao na ang kaibahan nila ni Roach, at ng boxer-trainer partnership, ay bukas sila sa anumang ideya ng isa’t isa.

“Some boxer just do as they’re told. I’m different. And coach Freddie is open to that. When I don’t feel like it, I look for other ways. That’s why if you notices, when we train inside the ring, we have discussions.”

At ayon sa promoter ni Pacquiao na si Bob Arum ng Top Rank, silang dalawa ang perpektong formula sa boxing.

“There has to be a great bond between the trainer and the boxer. And it’s built up over the years as they go into battle together,” ani Arum sa Pacquiao-Roach tandem na nagsimula noong 2001.

“Time after time after time they begin to understand each other so the coach becomes extremely affected tutoring and advisig the pupil. They become like one entity -- each guy doing his job to ensure victory,” wika ni Arum.