Manny Pacquiao keeps focus despite pre-game distractions
@Zelmarq (12585)
Cebu City, Philippines
April 14, 2007 7:28pm CST
SAN ANTONIO - Pre-game distractions are a common obstacle to championships. Then there's the world of Manny Pacquiao.
His world is brimming with out-of-the-ring activity as he mounts the latest defense of his WBC international super featherweight title against undefeated — yet unheralded — Jorge Solis. It's scheduled for 12 rounds Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).
Pacquiao (43-2-3, 33 knockouts) has had to contend with his own battle between promoters Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya in this country that has included court action seeking to stop the fight.
And that doesn't mention his trainer of the past four years, Freddie Roach, left him to prepare De La Hoya for the May 5 fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
None of this bothers Pacquiao, he says."Never. I never let distractions get in the way of my training," Pacquiao said. "My focus has been to train hard and concentrate for this fight."Pacquiao, 28, is being trained by former heavyweight Justin Fortune, who previously has assisted Roach with Pacquiao. Fortune had a 25-bout career that included a fourth-round loss to Lennox Lewis in 1995.
The 27-year-old Solis (32-2-0, 23 KOs) has never fought for a world title. Even when Solis won his last fight in January with a fifth-round TKO of Omar Lizaragga (9-3), Arum wondered if Solis was ready for an opponent like Pacquiao.
Arum said he tried initially to card a Pacquiao-Marco Barrera rematch of the 2003 fight Pacquiao won with an 11th round TKO.
But Solis, the brother of IBF light flyweight champ Ulises Solis, said he doesn't need Pacquiao to overlook him or to be distracted to win."I don't know what's going on in his head," Solis said through an interpreter. "I know I'm coming in strong and that I can beat Manny Pacquiao."Two other title fights are on the under card. Mexican fighters Cristian Mijares (30-2-3) and Jorge Arce (46-1-3) are scheduled for 12 rounds for Mijares' WBC super flyweight belt. Edgar Sosa (26-5) of Mexico City and former Olympian Brian Viloria (19-1-1) of Hawaii have 12 rounds to decide the vacant WBC light flyweight championship.
A 10-round non-title fight pits Mexico's Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (30-1-0) against Anthony Shuler (20-1-4) of Indianapolis. - AP
(GMA Network and Solar Entertainment will air "Blaze of Glory" live on Sunday, 9 a.m., Philippine Time)
source:http://www.gmanews.tv/story/38300/Manny-Pacquiao-keeps-focus-despite-pre-game-distractions
1 person likes this
3 responses
@thor78 (45)
• Philippines
16 Apr 07
Manny stays true to his fluid form but delivers a somewhat mediocre performance. Even former couch Rouch gave the PacMan
5 out of 10 in his fight against Solis. Manny only started to heat up after a accidental and bloody headbutt by Solis. Pacquiao win the bout in the 8th round after Solis stays planted to the ring floor.
1 person likes this
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
16 Apr 07
It was not deniable that he was throwing punches in the air, he didnt hit Solis hard the way he did from his past fights. But when he got head butt then the fire started and caused Solis to fall three times.
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
16 Apr 07
yes I agree with you. Filipinos are world class workers and world class fighters.
@rsa101 (38148)
• Philippines
15 Apr 07
I do hope that he wins this time again to prove that he is really the man to contend with. I guess this is all that matters now for him. Forget his political dreams today and focus on that in the coming days. I guess if he wins this match he could use this as his campaign rally for his political dreams.
1 person likes this
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
15 Apr 07
He won this game and Im glad he did. I am praying that he will lose his political ambitions and focus more on his career. He can join politics after his boxing career, he cant serve two masters at the same time.
