RP pugs keen to learn from Manny

BAGUIO — The stars of the Philippine national boxing team are eagerly awaiting Manny Pacquiao’s arrival to train at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) gym in the hilly terrain of the sprawling 23-hectare Teachers Camp here in June.

Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalists Harry Tanamor, Joan Tipon and Genebert Basadre told The STAR recently they will welcome Pacquiao with open arms when he begins workouts in the ABAP facility after coming from the US to promote and start training for his World Boxing Council International superfeatherweight title defense against Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2.

Pacquiao will leave for Los Angeles not later than May 13. He returns home after his brother Bobby fights Kevin Kelley in New York on June 10. Freddie Roach said he will likely continue his training in Baguio for two weeks before tapering off in Manila.

Tanamor, Tipon and Basadre are among 20 male fighters quartered and training in the ABAP gym. Also at the camp are six female fighters and eight coaches led by Pat Gaspi.

Tanamor, 28, said he will closely watch Pacquiao in training and pick up pointers on how to build up his power.

What he intends to learn from Pacquiao is where he gets his strength and how to develop power in his punches. "Marami akong matutunan kay Manny," said Tanamor. "Masuklian sana kaming mga national boxers ng kanyang lakas."

Tanamor said he met Pacquiao when he was still an amateur fighter during a tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Since then, their paths never crossed again.

"Hindi na niya ako makikila," said the modest Tanamor, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist, a two-time World Cup bronze medalist, an Asian Games silver medalist and a 2004 Athens Olympian. "Sino naman ako na matatandaan niya?"

Tanamor, a lightflyweight from Zamboanga City, is a loyal Pacquiao fan and never fails to watch his fights on TV. He has followed Pacquiao’s career since he turned pro in 1994.

Asked whether he intends to follow in Pacquiao’s footsteps, Tanamor said he has no plans to turn pro and leaves his boxing career in the hands of ABAP president Manny Lopez, the ABAP coaching staff and his supervising military officer in the Army.

National coach Pat Gaspi said if there’s no conflict in what the ABAP and the military plan for Tanamor, he sees no reason why the fighter can’t turn pro. Age, however, will be a factor considering Tanamor turns 29 in August.

Tanamor has stayed in Teachers Camp for six years now. His family–wife Jocymie and children Mary Joy, 4, and Harry, Jr., 1–lives in Manila.

Tipon, 24, said he admires Pacquiao’s fighting spirit and hopes to observe what makes him tick during his training.

At the SEA Games last year, Tipon scored a 27-14 decision over Tangtong Klongjan of Thailand to capture the gold medal in the bantamweight division. He was a silver medalist in the previous SEA Games.

Elongated with spindly arms, Tipon is touted to be a medal prospect at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh last year, he was adjudged the best boxer of the tournament after outclassing Oigonchuklun Bathkuu of Mongolia, 31-15, for the gold medal in the bantamweight class. International Amateur Boxing Association president Anwar Chowdry of Pakistan cited Tipon for his one-sided victory over the Mongolian, a silver medalist at the Busan Asian Games.

Tipon, who is from Bacolod, and his wife Marcialo are parents of two children Mikaela, 2, and Tobert, 1.

Basadre, 22, said he will try to find out from Pacquiao how he prepares for a fight.

What impresses Basadre is Pacquiao’s ability to find ways to win. "Sana magkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makipagusap sa kanya at malaman ko ang kanyang mga strategy at tactics sa laban," said Basadre, a bachelor.

A Cagayan de Oro native, Basadre stopped Indonesia’s Nittah Rifai Lubis by virtue of a 23-3 romp in the third round to bag the lightweight gold at the recent SEA Games. On the way to the finals, the lanky Basadre ousted Thailand’s Tun Dansanak, 28-19 and Malaysia’s Paunandes Bin Paulus, 28-9.

Gaspi said the national fighters in Pacquiao’s weight category are ready to spar with him if they’re called on by Roach and Buboy Fernandez.

Gaspi explained that if the national fighters are able to survive Pacquiao in the ring, it will be a major boost to their confidence. "Kung maka-sparring nila si Manny, kaya na nilang mag-dominate sa amateur level," said Gaspi.

The national coach said Pacquiao’s will to win is a trait he hopes will rub off on the ABAP pool.

"Ibang klase si Manny," added Gaspi. "Dugo-dugo na siya, nakakahanap pa ng paraan upang patayin ang kalaban. "Yan ang will to win na sana makuha at matutunan ng ating mga national boxer kay Manny."