by ALEX P. VIDAL
LOS ANGELES, California – In order to confuse Manny Pacquiao, his opponent must adopt a counter-punching style and avoid aggression in the early rounds, suggested the former strategist and buddy of the late Agapito Sanchez (36-11-3, 18 KOs), who engaged Pacquiao in a controversial 6th round technical draw for WBO/IBF super bantamweight titles on Nov. 10, 2001 in San Francisco, California.
Manuelito Azucena Sanabria of Dominican Republic, now a casino security staff, said he noticed that the Filipino multi-titlist "finds it hard" to deal with counter-punchers like Sanchez, Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs), Nedal Hussein (43-5, 27 KOs) and even Rustico Torrecampo(15-8-5, 8 KOs), the first pugilist to flatten Pacquiao for a full count.
"When you face a fast and strong boxer like Pacquiao, you must use physics to neutralize his speed and power," suggested Sanabria, 46, who considers the notorious Sanchez, a neighbor in La Victoria, as Pacquiao’s toughest opponent.
COMMON MISTAKES
He said "the most common mistake" of boxers who didn’t last the distance with Pacquiao’s was "they immediately jumped into the fray thinking they could knockout Pacquiao thus exposing themselves to danger and going down in humiliation".
Sanabria criticized Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) as "a powerful puncher who didn’t use his brains" and ribbed Joshua Clottey (35-4, 20 KOs) for "not taking advantage of his size" and for "being content to lose on points without giving extra efforts (to win)."
He belittled tall Antonio Margarito whom he described as "moving like a kindergarten in a playground" and "attacking like a one-way train" in losing a lopsided 12-round decision to Pacquiao for WBO 147-lb belt in November last year.
NO SUCCESS
Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), who will face Pacquiao for WBO welterweight championship on May 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was unsuccessful though as counter-puncher in his two decision losses to the late Vernon Forrest.
As aggressor and one who dictated the tempo of the duel, Mosley, 39, however, was deadly when he mowed down Fernando Vargas and Margarito.
Underdog Mosley plans to "execute my own game plan" against 32-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) and adopting a counter-punching style could be part of his weaponry, according to observers in his Big Bear training camp.
The skillful Filipino champion, who has developed his right punch, has been using his left hook to obliterate highly touted rivals – both aggressive and counter-punchers.
Team Pacquiao expects a tough showdown against the aging but three-time world titlist Mosley who has refused to predict the outcome of the widely publicized card promoted by Top Rank along with HBO, Sugar Shane Promotions and MP Promotions, except "to shock the world". /MP
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