Puerto Rican works RP champion’s corner anew

LOS ANGELES — Lenny de Jesus, the Puerto Rican cutman who had worked the corners of past world champions, will serve Manny Pacquiao for the fifth straight time when the Filipino boxing superstar meets Mexico’s Erik Morales on March 19 in Las Vegas.

While hoping and praying that Pacquiao doesn’t suffer any cut, accidental or otherwise, the 59-year-old de Jesus is confident that he’ll be able to do the job if and when called for during the highly anticipated fight at the MGM Grand.

"He (Pacquiao) should not worry because he knows he’s got a good cutman in the corner. And I’m confident that any cut he sustains I will take care of it," said the amiable cutman who’s been in the business for 41 years now.

De Jesus has been with some of the world’s greatest fighters, including Wilfredo Gomez, (Hector) "Macho" Camacho, Juan Laporte and Carlos Santos. Easily, he said that Pacquiao is among the best in the world today.

"I’ve been with the best fighters in the world. I’ve been with a lot of them. I’ve been with a lot of fighters," said de Jesus, always around whenever Pacquiao trains here at the Wild Card Gym along Vine St in Hollywood.

"I’ve been with Manny in his last four fights and hopefully I’ll continue working for him," added de Jesus who described himself as a "Puerto Rican until the day I die. He was in the Philippines last December when Pacquiao stopped Thailand’s Fahsan 3K Battery in four rounds.

De Jesus likened the Philippines to Puerto Rico, another small country that has produced great fighters. Aside from Pacquiao, Filipino ring heroes in the past were Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Ben Villaflor, Rolando Navarette, the Penalosas (Dodie Boy and Gerry) and Luisito Espinosa.

"We’re also a little country but at one time we’ve had seven champions. That’s seven world champions at one time," said de Jesus.

He believes that for Pacquiao to win, he should work more on Morales’ body.

"I’ve seen Morales and I’ve heard that he’s a heavy eater like the other Mexicans. So he’s quite vulnerable from the mid-section. That’s where Manny should work on. Work the body and then it’s just a matter of time." — Abac Cordero