Manny to cheer for Bobby

Manny Pacquiao leaves today to be at ringside when younger brother Bobby takes on former International Boxing Federation (IBF) superfeatherweight champion Carlos (Famoso) Hernandez in a scheduled 10-round bout at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas this Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila).

Bobby, 24, has been training under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood the last six weeks. He initially lived in lawyer Mike Koncz’ home in Orange County with fighter Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista and trainer Edito Villamor but moved to the Palazzo in La Brea when Manny vacated the townhouse to return home after his Sept. 10 demolition of Hector Velazquez.

Bobby’s wife Lorelei is with him in Los Angeles. Manny’s long-time trainer Buboy Fernandez and Florida-based Filipino superlightweight Gerry Balagbagan are also keeping Bobby company.

Manny will be joined by wife Jinkee, Cebu promoter Rex (Wakee) Salud and possibly business agent Enrico Pineda in the flight to the US.

The Pacquiao family’s close associate Clem Asencio said the report from Los Angeles is Bobby is working extra hard in the gym because he knows a win over Hernandez will turn him into an instant top 10 contender.

Bobby is guaranteed $90,000 for the fight against Hernandez. If he wins, promoter Gary Shaw said his next paycheck will be at least $350,000.

But it won’t be easy beating Hernandez, a Los Angeles-born veteran of El Salvadorian descent.

A durable warrior, Hernandez turned pro in 1992 when Bobby was only 11 years old. He has a 41-5-1 record, with 24 KOs, compared to Bobby’s 25-11-3, with 11 KOs. Hernandez, 34, has lost only to world champions Erik Morales, Jesus Chavez, Genaro Hernandez, Floyd Mayweather and Aaron Zarate. The defeats were all on points.

Hernandez has fought only one Filipino so far. He halted Isagani (Little Guns) Pumar in the 10th round in Inglewood in 1996.

Bobby, however, is hungrier and younger. He’s coming off a seventh round upset knockout win over highly touted Carlos Navarro in Friant, California, to wrest the World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas superfeatherweight diadem.

A draining body attack took the starch out of Navarro who surrendered on his knees as referee John Schorle counted to 10.

It was a spectacular victory for the unheralded Filipino who repeatedly lost his footing because of slippery soles until cornerman Justin Fortune wrapped his shoes in tape. He survived Schorle’s questionable officiating to score the knockout.

In the sixth round, Bobby dropped Navarro with a left to the solar plexus but Schorle ruled it a low blow and deducted a point from the Filipino. A replay on TV clearly showed it was a legitimate punch. Navarro was given a 25-second rest to recover.

Infuriated by Schorle, Bobby jumped at Navarro to open the seventh round and banged away. Navarro sank to his knees for an eight-count. He got up only for Bobby to swarm all over him. Navarro fell once more and hit both fists on the canvas, apparently disgusted by his inability to stave off Bobby. Instead of counting for the knockdown, Schorle told Navarro to get up and he would be given a grace period to recover. Navarro got at least a 30-second reprieve but when action was resumed, couldn’t hold back the rampaging Bobby. After another flurry, Navarro crumpled to the canvas and was finished for the night.

It was Bobby’s second win in as many outings in the US. Last November, he made his US debut with a unanimous eight-round decision over Oscar Villa of Mexico in Montebello, California.

Bobby’s slowly stepping out of Manny’s shadow.

Bobby never planned to be a fighter. He preferred to play basketball and was a perennial MVP in recreational leagues in General Santos City. It was Manny who introduced boxing to Bobby.

In 1997, Bobby turned pro and had a difficult start. He lacked confidence and the heart to push himself to the limit. But Bobby slowly matured, polished his skills and began to make waves. He’s lost only once in his last eight fights.

Hernandez is in the record books as the only fighter to floor Mayweather. He is trained by Argentinian Amilcar Brusa who used to handle the legendary Carlos Monzon. Hernandez has never been stopped and fights like a raging bull.

Hernandez’ wife Veronica, a Mexican psychologist, is his manager. He grew up homeless and used to sleep in a friend’s garage. Now that he has saved from his ring earnings, Hernandez supports charities in El Salvador and set aside a part of his Morales purse to pay for the liver transplant of a poor teenaged girl. He was previously managed by the late Jackie McCoy.