Fresh off his shutout of Joshua Clottey, Manny Pacquiao was back at home in the Philippines, probably enjoying a glass of calamansi juice on the rocks as he hits the campaign trail for his congressional bid. However, that doesn’t mean everything stops around the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Here are some notes and observations after spending a sun-drenched day last week on 1123 Vine.
One guy that might beat Kayode to the feat is Brian “The Beast” Minto, who was seen vigorously working the pads with Freddie before his May 1 date with Marco Huck to challenge for the German’s WBO cruiserweight title in Oldenburg, Germany. Minto, like Kayode, is making the transition from heavyweight to the 200-pound limit…
Another junior welterweight prospect is staying active on the same date, but different state. Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne was all smiles on his way out for the day, having finished his second of two workouts in preparation for a bout in Rancho Mirage, California, on the April 10 broadcast of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, a Gary Shaw-promoted card headlined by rising undefeated welterweight Orlando Lora vs. David Estrada. The Irishman, who served as a Pacquiao sparmate in camps as recently as the Filipino’s rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, recently returned from London after visiting his girlfriend and newborn baby Deano…
Staying on the topic of 140-pounders from the Emerald Isle, Jamie “The Nuisance” Kavanagh, who like Benavidez, logged rounds as a sparring partner for Pacquiao’s last camp, is back in his adopted home of Spain for a couple weeks. The 19-year-old, who made his way to Hollywood with the help of fellow Dubliner Byrne, is looking at promotional offers as we speak…
Speaking of former Pacquiao sparmates, Amir Khan, the WBA junior welterweight world champ, was initially disappointed when his fight with Marquez fell through, but he’s now focused on “winning one for the Wild Card” on May 15 in light of his opponent Paulie Malignaggi’s scathing PED accusations regarding his friend Manny, quotes which Amir found to be “quite disrespectful to Manny, as well as to Freddie and (strength coach) Alex Ariza”…
Respected Filipino promoter Sammy “Don King” Gello-ani brought 108-pounder Bert Batawang from the Asian archipelago to Wild Card to stay busy for his IBF title eliminator against former champ Ulises Solis in the Mexican state of Baja California last Saturday (which met an unfortunate end as Batawang lost by fifth-round TKO)…
Gello-ani’s also keeping an eye out for his other Filipino fighter, WBO interim light flyweight champ Jhonreil Casimiro, who looks take the regular version of the belt away from Ivan Calderon. The 18-year-old from the Cebu province gets his shot at “Iron Boy” on May 29 in the not-so-friendly confines of Bayamon, Puerto Rico…
The man who could not defeat Calderon in two attempts, Rodel Mayol, just happened to be in the gym that day working the double-end bag. Incidentally enough, like Casimiro, he’s also a Cebuano. The current WBC light flyweight champion has to be the only fighter in recent memory who has had four straight world title fights include either a low blow or headbutt in the heat of each controversial contested conclusion…
Yet another Pinoy, featherweight prospect Michael Farenas, skipped some rope. Farenas, who is coming off a no-contest against Joe Morales on the Pacquiao vs. Clottey undercard, is currently trained by Carlos Peñalosa, big brother of former world champions Gerry and Dodie Boy…
The gym regulars welcomed former WIBF welterweight champ Lucia Rijker with hugs and salutations. “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” still looks like she could go the full twelve rounds with ease. Not too many fighters can neutralize an orthodox fighter’s straight right by turning her chin toward her right shoulder to lessen the impact and then countering off that punch with a left hook to the exposed jaw. She’s a true pro in every sense of the word…
As Guillermo Rigondeaux entered the gym and had his hands wrapped by Benavidez Sr., Pepper Roach told me that he thinks the only man at 122 capable of beating the Cuban phenom is Israel Vazquez. His brother Freddie disagrees; he’d pick “El Chacal” today...
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Stay tuned for my upcoming one-on-one sitdown with four-time BWAA Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach on MaxBoxing.com later this week as we talk about everything ranging from the best advice he ever received from his mentor Eddie Futch, Toney’s new contract with the UFC, and how he feels the Pac-Man would stack up in fantasy fights with fellow weight-jumping legends Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran!
Ryan can be reached at rmaquinana@gmail.com.
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