MAGBABALIK kay Manny Pacquiao ang bangungot ng kabiguan na natamo sa kamay ni Juan Manuel Marquez.
Ito ang sisiguraduhin ni Glenn Rushton, trainer at manager ni Australian challenger Jeff Horn, sa panayam ng The Bulletin/Tempo/Balita.
Ayon kay Rushton, pinaghahandaan na ni Horn ang istilo na maihahalintulad kay Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez na matagumpay na pinatulog si Pacquiao sa ikaanim na round noong December 2012.
“I believe Jeff can do what Marquez has done and actually do it a little bit better. The skill that Marquez used against Manny has been successful,” sambit ni Rushton. “I believe Jeff Horn has those abilities but he’s slightly bigger than Marquez and little bit faster and just a little bit more technically proficient.”
Iginiit ni Rushton na isang katangahan sa panig ni Pacquiao na ikonsiderang tune-up lamang ng Pinoy eight-division world champion ang laban kay Horn para sa nilulutong rematch kay undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“They are trying to put him in the same category as a fighter like Brandon Rios who just walked up against Manny Pacquiao. Jeff Horn is far more technically proficient than that,” pahayag ni Rushton.
“You’re talking of a man who made it into the quarterfinals of the Olympics so technically he is a very good boxer.
When you back that up with a heart of a lion and a chin that’s like granite it’s going to be a great contest that’s all I can say.”
Tangan ng 29-anyos na si Horn ang kartang 16-0-1, tampok ang 11 knockout. Nagwagi siya ng gold medal sa Arafura at Oceania Games, at nagapasok sa quarterfinals ng 2012 London Olympics kung saan nagapi siya ni eventual silver medalist Denys Berinchyk ng Ukraine.
Sa kabila nang magandang katayuan sa laban, sinabi ni Rushton na wala siyang inaaksayang panahon para masiguro na handa ang kanyang fighter sa pagharap sa Pinoy champion.
“Manny is a complete fighter and he has proven that for many many years. We are not underestimating the challenge in front of us,” aniya.
“It’s going to be similar to the Marquez battles. It’s going to be intense. Of course Jeff will get hit but he will bounce back and Manny will realize he is like Marquez, just coming at you.”
Itataya ni Pacquiao sa laban ang World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown. Nakatakda ang sagupaan sa Hulyo 2 sa Suncorp Stadium sa Brisbane, Australia. (Dennis Principe)
