Sparmate calls Manny modern-day Ali

LAS VEGAS – Unbeaten welterweight prospect Lydell (Hackman) Rhodes the other day described Manny Pacquiao as a modern-day Muhammad Ali and predicted the Filipino icon to regain the WBO 147-pound crown from Timothy Bradley here Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time) in a fight that won’t be a walk in the park.

Rhodes, 26, spent close to two months training and sparring with Pacquiao from General Santos City to Los Angeles. He was scheduled to face Mexican Alejandro Rodriguez in an eight-rounder at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Friday night. Rhodes promised to beat Rodriguez and preserve his unbeaten record which was 19-0, with 9 KOs, before the bout.

Rhodes said he’s now three times a better fighter because of Pacquiao. “Overall, I think we sparred 60 to 70 rounds,” he said. “The one thing I learned from Manny is mental toughness. In the gym, you don’t play around. You focus on what you need to do. You work hard. You stay in the zone.”

Rhodes said Pacquiao is more than ready for Bradley. “At the start of camp, he was already in tremendous shape,” he said. “Manny was playing basketball every day so no problem with his stamina. As for his power, it’s always been there. He got stronger  as the camp progressed. Late in the camp, he started holding back, pulling his punches. He had his rhythm and timing back. He could’ve dominated and even hurt us in sparring but he didn’t want to. What I noticed in camp was his footwork which he really worked on. That’s one thing he’s really improved on, to create angles and step into Bradley’s path.”

Regarding his fight against Rodriguez, Rhodes said he owed it to Pacquiao for the booking. “I’m super excited to fight for the first time outside my home state of Oklahoma and I’m grateful to Manny for the opportunity,” he said. Rhodes said former world champion Zab Judah’s father Yoel, his own father and a friend were in his corner for the Rodriguez assignment.

Rhodes said he expects Bradley to counterpunch against Pacquiao. “It won’t be a walk in the park for Manny because Bradley’s tough,” he continued. “Bradley’s not as sharp as Floyd (Mayweather) but he’s up there with the best of them as a pure boxer. He’s got good reflexes with a high level of skill. He’s gone down but he’s also gotten up. I don’t know if he’s a different fighter now after taking a beating from Manny and (Ruslan) Provodnikov. I think Manny ends up winning a close decision.”

On Pacquiao losing his killer instinct as Bradley claimed, Rhodes said he doesn’t agree. “Manny’s got to be happy to fight right, he’s got to enjoy it and have lots of fun,” he said. “Then, the knockout will come. If he’s tight, it won’t happen. I think Manny’s composed and relaxed now. I know Jinkee’s not in town, she’s due to deliver. It’s extra motivation for Manny to think about his new baby. He wants to provide for the future of his family and not only that, he wants to leave behind a legacy.”

Rhodes said Pacquiao will do an Ali and regain the title. “Ali lost to Joe Frazier but came back to beat him twice,” he said. “Manny lost to Bradley although that really wasn’t a loss. He’ll bounce back just like Ali.”

Staying in the Philippines was an eye-opener for Rhodes. “I loved it,” he said. “I want to go back, this time, for a vacation, on my own. Manny invited me to go back with him and just hang out. I’ve met some wonderful Filipinos and I can’t wait to visit.” Rhodes, by the way, is single and unattached.