'Champ's got skills, techniques'

HOLLYWOOD – Steve Forbes, one of Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners, is on the same page with Freddie Roach.

The 33-year-old boxer from Nevada told Pinoy scribes the other day he sees Pacquiao finishing off Joshua Clottey in nine rounds at the Cowboys Stadium next Saturday.

Forbes said it did not take long for him to realize how strong Pacquiao is on the ring.

“You know, he’s a lot more better technically than what people give him credit for,” said Forbes of the WBO welterweight champion from the Philippines, who’s more known for his power than his technical ability.

“Yes, he’s got good skills and technique,” said Forbes.

And based on what he knows about Clottey, Forbes said it should be over in nine rounds, the same prediction Roach made the other day.

“Nine at most,” said Forbes.

“I see Manny overwhelming him with activity. There’s just too many angles for Pacquiao’s punches. There’s too much speed and good placement of shots. Manny will overwhelm him with speed and punching power.”

Forbes, who’s got a 34-7-0 record, was to face Harrison Cuello in Connecticut last night, and before he left the Wild Card Gym the other day he said working with Pacquiao will serve him in good stead.

“It’s great working with him and coach Freddie. There’s just so much to learn from them,” he said.

Notes: There’s no “24/7” coverage from HBO this time, but just the same the leading cable network came up with a 30-minute special – “The Road to Dallas.” It was aired Saturday evening, and tackled the coming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Josh Clottey. As usual, it was a good one, showing the distance between the two fighters, one being an icon, and the other just being there for the opportunity of a lifetime. While Pacquiao loved the glare of the cameras, Clottey appeared to be the quiet type – on and off the ring. The 33-year-old hero from Ghana stays in a small apartment in The Bronx, and has the habit of running by his lonesome, under the cover of darkness. Pacquiao, on the other hand, stays in his $2 million home in Los Angeles, and never leaves the house without his bloated entourage. The difference on the ring will be known next week... Dr. Allan Recto, a personal friend of Pacquiao’s, is amazed with the boxer’s physical conditioning. After Friday morning’s run and close to a thousand crunches, Pacquiao’s pulse rate was in the low 50s. That’s how great athletes are, the doctor said, as compared to other men, like the Filipino’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, who ran a couple of rounds at the Griffith Park, and checked his pulse rate at 140. “His physical condition is unbelievable,” said Recto.