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ALAM ba ninyo na sa rematch ni Manny Pacquiao kay Timothy Bradley ay isang teen-ager na boksingero ang naging main sparring partner ng ating Pambansang Kamao?
Ang pangalan niya ay Julian Rodriguez, isang 19-year old na na may timbang na light welterweight.
Malaki ang naitulong na batang boksingero kay Pacquiao dahil mabilis ito na kayang gayahin ang istilo ni Bradley. At sa tulong niya ay nabawi ni Manny ang korona sa World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight noong Abril 12 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas.
Ngayon ay masusubok ang kalidad ni Rodriguez sa pagharap niya kay 39-year old Yankton Southern (4-5, 4 KOs) na taga Springfield Missouri sa isang 4 rounds na lalarga sa “The Mecca of Boxing” sa Madison Square Garden.
Undercard sila ng bakbakang Gennady Golovkin at Daniel Geale para sa middleweight crown.
Sa kasalukuyan ay wala pang talo si Rodriguez sa kartang 4-0 at 3 ang tinibag niya sa canvas.
“I learned a lot from Pacquiao. It is really hard to put into words. It is more like, how you feel, how you move and how he moves, “ pahayag ni Rodriguez na umamin na ang pagiging sparringmate ni Pacquiao ay nakakataas ng kompiyansa.
“I worked on my hand speed and defense during our exchanges and also on my foot work. He definitely taught me some things. Just being in there, you really learn a lot.”
“Not only did I learn boxing from him, but also as a person. Oh my God, what a great person he is. The most generous guy I have ever met in my life, even outside of boxing. He is just really giving,” described the young boxer who might possibly be called again in the upcoming months to relinquish his role as Pacquiao’s sparring partner when the welterweight champ prepares for his November 23rd fight against challenger, Chris Algieri.
“Nothing is definite yet. But they definitely love the work that I provided for them. His camp mentioned to me plenty of times, that I am the reason that he was in really good shape for that fight. It was great work and it was really back and forth and that is what they needed.”
Magandang panoorin ang batang boksingero. May potensiyal siya na sumulong ang career sa hinaharap.
ni Alex L. Cruz
