AFTER being decked in sparring over the weekend, welterweight contender Shawn Porter may quit on Manny Pacquiao, a development that could hamper the Filipino ring icon’s preparations for his May 7 (May 8 in Manila) title defense against "Sugar" Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
Porter, one of the sparring partners of Pacquiao when he prepared for his fight against Miguel Cotto three years ago, absorbed a powerful left cross to the chin in the third round of a scheduled eight-rounder last Saturday and hit the canvas, according to strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
Although Porter got up, he refused to continue, Ariza added, raising prospects the American, a rising welterweight contender, may quit than be battered and put his boxing career in jeopardy.
While trainer Freddie Roach happily welcomed the development, saying it proves the eight-division champion has recovered his punching power, the prospects of Porter leaving does not augur well for the last four weeks of Pacquiao’s build-up for his defense of his 147-pound crown.
Roach, in an overseas telephone interview yesterday, could not tell whether Porter would stay, merely saying the former United States Olympic team hopeful is the only Pacquiao sparmate capable of matching Mosley’s fighting style, speed and power.
As is his wont, however, Roach remained unfazed, adding: "There’s nothing to worry really. Everything has been put in place, the camp is going smoothly and Manny has been re-learning things he ought to recover. If Porter quits, we’ll find somebody with the same caliber."
Roach is set to leave for Manchester, England to be with the corner of another ward, Amir Khan, who is fighting Paul McCloskey this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
The absence of Roach, along with the prospects of Porter leaving, has raised a minor alarm within the Pacquiao camp, which has experienced calm since the Filipino star arrived in Los Angeles last week.
It has been noted that since Pacquiao started preparations three weeks ago in Baguio City, there had not been a single major distraction, no internal bickering, no backbiting and no disputes within the camp, things that bedeviled Pacquiao’s past training regimens.
Ariza related that Porter and Pacquiao gave each other hell in the first two rounds of their sparring sessions, with the former connecting with a pair of right straights early in the third. Stung, Pacquiao unleashed his feared left cross, the same weapon he used to retire legendary Oscar DeLa Hoya and Cotto, among others, and sent Porter on the seat of his pants.
Last Thursday, Pacquiao battered another sparring partner who was saved only by the ropes from hitting the deck.
Lightweight David Rodela, Rashad Halloway and Karim Mayfield, Pacquiao’s other sparmates, will remain with the team, according to Ariza.
Eddie Alinea, Business Malaya Insight
