By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.
CEBU CITY — After receiving a “beating” from Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao during their three-round sparring session yesterday afternoon, Mexican Raymundo Beltran said the Filipino idol can very well stop his compatriot, Marco Antonio Barrera, in no more than six rounds.
Pacquiao and Barrera are scheduled to meet over 12 rounds on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas.
Beltran, who arrived from Arizona by way of Los Angeles last Wednesday, had his first session with Pacquiao yesterday afternoon inside the crowded Rex "Wakee" Salud boxing gym.
"In boxing there are a lot of surprises but I don’t see any way Barrera could beat Manny," said the 26-year-old power-hitter, a lightweight boxer. "I think Manny can stop him inside six rounds".
Beltran, who had been Pacquiao’s sparmate in his first bout against Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez said, Pacquiao is not bigger but a more intelligent fighter and has a lot of confidence compared to the first time they sparred, making the Filipino boxing icon too hard for Barrera to beat.
Beltran describes himself as a technical, stylish fighter who has quick movements and fists packed with devastating power.
"I’m a technical, stylish fighter. My style is similar to Barrera. We’re going to help Manny fight smarter and more tactical that’s why I’m training with him," said Beltran.
Beltran stands at 5’8" with a 27-inch reach and carries a professional ring record of 20 wins and three losses, 12 wins by knockout.
Pacquiao sparred with Beltran for three rounds, all of them hard rounds. After that, Pacquiao sparred with Los Angeles-based David Rodela for three more rounds.
It was the second session with lightweight Rodela (7-1-2, 4KOs), who has been his regular sparring partner since he fought Morales for the first time in 2005.
American trainer Freddie Roach yesterday lamented the presence of curious onlookers, about 50 of them who packed the mini-gym owned by boxing aficionado Rex "Wakee" Salud.
"With all these people here, there’s no more room for breathing. And the more people that gets in here, the hotter this gym becomes," said Roach, who stressed that he would request Salud to limit the crowd inside the boxing gym starting Monday.
"I know the fans love Manny and I do too but he’s getting ready for the biggest fight of his life and we have to respect that," Roach said, who wanted more privacy during the training sessions.
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