Robert Jackson: With the ‘pomp and circumstance’ regarding the making of the big fight behind us writers like myself, fans, critics, naysayers and the lot can now analyze and dissect the merit and worth of the upcoming Mayweather/Pacquiao or Pacquiao/Mayweather (if you will) bout scheduled for March 13, 2010. One thing that I’m wondering about is whom both combatants will choose as PROPER sparring partners to get them ready for each other.
Roach already came out earlier this week with his choice of Andre Berto to spar with his charge. Freddie it ain’t happening! Pacquiao does NOTHING to prepare the WBC champion for his January 30, 2010 bout with Shane Mosley, or after that.. Could you imagine Berto’s sparring fee, would probably be $100K?? I just think Freddie was trying to gain some psychological advantage for his side by throwing Berto’s name out there to see if he would get a response from the Mayweather side. A good choice IMO would be Lamont Peterson and that may or may not happen after Peterson’s December 12, 2009 matchup with 140lb titleholder Timothy Bradley. Shane Mosley who sparred with Oscar DeLaHoya to prepare him for his 2007 fight against Mayweather would also be a good choice for Pacquiao but the political ramifications of Shane accepting that role aren’t to his advantage.
Plus like Berto, Pacquiao does nothing to prepare Sugar Shane for his January 30 date with destiny. Other guys who could help Team Pacquiao are Emmanuel Augustus and Steve Forbes, these guys have a slick,
quick, athletic style similar to Mayweathers but they won’t come cheap.
On the Mayweather side of the coin I know that Chop Chop Corley has worked with Pretty Boy Floyd in the past and would probably lend a hand and give Mayweather some southpaw sparring rounds. Zab Judah on the comeback trail (again) would also like to get back in the ring with Money May (I’m guessing). Unlike Freddie Roach, Team Mayweather is very secretive when it comes to sparring and doesn’t publicize whom Money May is sparring with. The Peterson sparring as preparation for the Marquez fight leaked out but to this day the ACTUAL facts surrounding those 2 sparring sessions are still cloudy and undefined.
Other than the mentioned guys a couple more come to mind and one of them is Venezualan Edwin Valero. Oscar DeLaHoya was taking such a beating from this kid while sparring in preparation for Manny
Pacquiao, he was thrown out of the DeLaHoya camp. Valero is about the same size as Pacquiao and fights with as similar but less polished kamakaze style like Pacquiao.
Valero throws combinations non-stop and mugs his opponents, the perfect sparring for Mayweather. The last guy who would be helpful by sparring with Mayweather is GBP’s up-and- coming star Victor Ortiz, and after his 12/12/09 comeback fight against Antonio Diaz he MAY be available.
Sparring is a subjective activity and the good trainers get it right choosing the right sparring partners that their charges can get the most benefit from. Sparring can also be a reciprocating activity where the sparring partner is also preparing for a fight and uses these same sessions to prepare. For this ‘Fight of the Century’ the guy who prepares best will comeout on top. The only question I have is will it be Pacquiao/Mayweather 24/ 7 or Mayweather/ Pacquiao 24/7??