Buboy says why not rematch?

LAS VEGAS – WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas is willing to give Manny Pacquiao a rematch and even as the Filipino icon hasn’t made up his mind on whether or not to continue his boxing career, Buboy Fernandez said let’s do it again. Last Saturday, Ugas scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Pacquiao to retain his WBA crown before 17,438 fans at the jam-packed T-Mobile Arena here.

“Hindi pa oras isabit ang gloves niya sa ibabaw ng ring,” said Fernandez who worked Pacquiao’s corner with Freddie Roach and cutman Mike Rodriguez for the Ugas fight. “I want to see more. One more time. Rematch, walang problema. Kami ang nakakaalam, makinig lang siya. Nag-prepare si Ugas kasi ang kalaban niya legendary. Pinakita ni Ugas ang galing niya. Ang mahalaga ay ang fighting senator natin safety.”

Fernandez said Pacquiao complained of stiffness in his right foot early in the contest. It started from the calf and the pain shot up to the hamstring. Then, Pacquiao felt the same in his left foot, impeding his mobility. “Gabi ni Ugas, siyang nanalo,” he continued. “Start ng fourth round, nahirapan na ang aking kaibigan, kaya sabi ko, huwag na masyadong gumalaw at target-target na lang si Ugas.”

Fernandez said the legs were more of a problem than Ugas. “Mas mahirap na kalaban ang paa kasi dalawa,” he said. “Sa style ni Ugas, hindi tayo nahirapan kasi nablock naman yung mga suntok galing sa labas. Sabi ko palagi, bago niyo talunin ang Pacquiao, tanggalin muna ang dalawang paa niya. Lamang si Ugas kasi nakuha niya ‘yon.”

Fernandez disclosed that while in training camp, Pacquiao had cramping issues. “Everyday, lumalabas ang cramps kaya minsan, nirerest namin siya,” he said. “Pero pagnaayos namin, lumalabas muli, sa calf nanggagaling. Sa laban, legs na. ‘Di tayo pupuntos sa harapan, kailangan gumalaw pero nahirapan na siya gawa ng cramps. ‘Di siya makapagsalita pero tinuturo ang dalawang paa niya. Once mag side-to-side, kailangan yung legs gumalaw. Every time sumuntok siya, dapat mag-twist ang legs. Walang dahilan, talagang talo tayo.”

Despite Pacquiao’s leg issues, he persisted in going 32 rounds of drills nearly everyday during over two months of training. Physiotherapist Dr. Sean Hampton was brought in to look after Pacquiao and reportedly applied rock blading or an advanced manual therapy training technique to loosen his muscles. In the dressing room before the fight, Pacquiao was shown laid out on a table with Dr. Hampton massaging his legs. Early in the fight, Pacquiao walked back to his corner in between rounds and stood briefly to shake off the discomfort in his legs before sitting down. It was an indication that something was wrong.