Pacquiao foe KOd Pinoy in 88 Olympics
May 23, 2002 | 12:00am
At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a hard-hitting Colombian knocked out Filipino bet Michael Hormillosa in the third round of a bantamweight bout.
Jorge Julio-Rocha, using his mothers surname, went on to defeat hopefuls from Puerto Rico, East Germany, and Japan before losing a 3-2 decision to Alexander Hristov of Bulgaria in the semifinals. The loss to Hristov was controversial and triggered a bitter protest from the Colombian delegation.
But the verdict stuck. Julio-Rocha, 19, settled for a bronze medal.
Filipino fans never forgave the Colombian for stopping Hormillosa.
On June 8, International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao hopes to avenge Hormillosas defeat when he battles the Colombiannow known as Jorge Eliecer Julioin a scheduled 12-round bout at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.
Julio, 33, looks a little like Felix Trinidad and is feistier. He likes to charge in like a bull and doesnt back down. The Colombian is a rugged, two-fisted, switchhitting brawler. Hes expected to slug it out with Pacquiao until only one man is left standing.
What could be bad news for Pacquiao is Julios reputation as a dirty fighter. Last November, Pacquiao had difficulty coping with Agapito Sanchez roughhousing and was held to a sixth round technical draw in San Francisco. Julio is as dirty as Sanchez but more skillfulthe combination makes him a dangerous opponent for the 22-year-old Pacquiao.
Writer Tony Connolly of Boxing News (London) described Julio as "heavy-handed, shifty, sneaky, awkward, ruthless, even dirty-doing things wrong but getting it right." He also called Julio "a flashy dangerman" and "a dirty fighter (who) likes to use his head, shoulders and elbows."
When Julio fought Johnny Tapia in January 2000, he was penalized a point for elbowing. Tapias cornerman for the fight was trainer Freddie Roach who is now training Pacquiao and will be in the Filipinos corner for the bout against Julio.
Julio turned pro in 1989 after compiling an amateur record of 88-9. He won his first 19 fights as a pro by knockout and has notched seven first round disposals. Julio has lost only thriceall on pointsto former world bantamweight champion Junior Jones, reigning IBF featherweight titlist Tapia, and Mexican contender Adan Vargas.
In losing to Jones in 1993, Julio scored a knockdown but was floored twice enroute to dropping a decision. Julios consolation was he was paid a whopping $175,000 for facing Jones.
Julio is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion. He lost the WBA title in his third defense and the WBO crown in his fourth. Pacquiaos challenger is coming off two straight wins over Juan Carlos Cobarrubias and Darryl Pinckney. Last months win over Pinckney was a bruiser as Julio finished with a badly swollen left eye.
With a 69-inch wingspan, Julio shouldnt find it difficult to reach Pacquiao. But will his defense hold up against the power-punching Filipino?
Jorge Julio-Rocha, using his mothers surname, went on to defeat hopefuls from Puerto Rico, East Germany, and Japan before losing a 3-2 decision to Alexander Hristov of Bulgaria in the semifinals. The loss to Hristov was controversial and triggered a bitter protest from the Colombian delegation.
But the verdict stuck. Julio-Rocha, 19, settled for a bronze medal.
Filipino fans never forgave the Colombian for stopping Hormillosa.
On June 8, International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao hopes to avenge Hormillosas defeat when he battles the Colombiannow known as Jorge Eliecer Julioin a scheduled 12-round bout at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis.
Julio, 33, looks a little like Felix Trinidad and is feistier. He likes to charge in like a bull and doesnt back down. The Colombian is a rugged, two-fisted, switchhitting brawler. Hes expected to slug it out with Pacquiao until only one man is left standing.
What could be bad news for Pacquiao is Julios reputation as a dirty fighter. Last November, Pacquiao had difficulty coping with Agapito Sanchez roughhousing and was held to a sixth round technical draw in San Francisco. Julio is as dirty as Sanchez but more skillfulthe combination makes him a dangerous opponent for the 22-year-old Pacquiao.
Writer Tony Connolly of Boxing News (London) described Julio as "heavy-handed, shifty, sneaky, awkward, ruthless, even dirty-doing things wrong but getting it right." He also called Julio "a flashy dangerman" and "a dirty fighter (who) likes to use his head, shoulders and elbows."
When Julio fought Johnny Tapia in January 2000, he was penalized a point for elbowing. Tapias cornerman for the fight was trainer Freddie Roach who is now training Pacquiao and will be in the Filipinos corner for the bout against Julio.
Julio turned pro in 1989 after compiling an amateur record of 88-9. He won his first 19 fights as a pro by knockout and has notched seven first round disposals. Julio has lost only thriceall on pointsto former world bantamweight champion Junior Jones, reigning IBF featherweight titlist Tapia, and Mexican contender Adan Vargas.
In losing to Jones in 1993, Julio scored a knockdown but was floored twice enroute to dropping a decision. Julios consolation was he was paid a whopping $175,000 for facing Jones.
Julio is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion. He lost the WBA title in his third defense and the WBO crown in his fourth. Pacquiaos challenger is coming off two straight wins over Juan Carlos Cobarrubias and Darryl Pinckney. Last months win over Pinckney was a bruiser as Julio finished with a badly swollen left eye.
With a 69-inch wingspan, Julio shouldnt find it difficult to reach Pacquiao. But will his defense hold up against the power-punching Filipino?
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