Pacquiao’s coattails carry former sparring mates

Manny Pacquiao failed to land a knockout punch against his latest foe, a handsome but hapless fighter named Chris Algieri in Macau two weeks ago.

Nevertheless, the Pacman’s career-best six-knockdown conquest of the unbeaten fighter from the Hamptons in New York sparked a renewed push for a much-awaited faceoff with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It also highlighted the fact that, despite the snake-oil salesmanship of Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, credible opponents other than Mayweather are getting harder to come by for the Pacman.

In the meantime, the Filipino ring icon’s coattails as boxing’s only eight-division world titleholder are getting longer, sweeping his former sparring partners into the big time themselves.

Take the case of Ray Beltran, formerly Pacquiao’s chief sparmate who faced unbeaten Terence Crawford in Omaha, Nebraska, for the WBO lightweight title last weekend.

The 27-year old Beltran, out to prove that the title was his last year until the judges decided on a controversial draw with then-titleholder Ricky Burns in Scotland, failed miserably to beat Crawford, who had earlier wrested the WBO crown from the Englishman Burns.

Crawford (24-0, 17 knockouts) scored a unanimous decision over Beltran. The Omaha native also successfully defended his belt when he rallied to score an exciting stoppage against Cuba’s Yuriorkis Gamboa in June.

Beltran (29-7-1, 17 KOs), a native of Mexico, was a sparring partner Pacquiao in 10 or 12 of the fighting congressman’s training camps. The last time Beltran was in the camp with Pacquiao was before the fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012.

Another ex-sparring partner, former world super lightweight champ Amir Khan may end up fighting Pacquiao himself, should Mayweather decide not to handpick the Briton as his next opponent.

But first, Khan has to beat former two-division belt holder Devon Alexander in a make or break welterweight bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Khan was part of a few Pacquiao training camps because he used to be trained by Manny’s long-time handler Freddie Roach.

The boxer from Bolton, England, said the fight will determine “who goes to the elite level and who has to start back over again.”

Of course, Algieri earned a place in the big stage, albeit prematurely, by coming from behind to win a split decision last June over Ruslan Provodnikov, another Pacquiao sparring partner.

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To usher in the holidays in a spirit of peace and prosperity, Pangasinan first lady Priscilla Espino assisted by board member Amado Espino III and the governor’s chief aide, Raffy Baraan, lit up the provincial Christmas tree at the Capitol Plaza in Lingayen recently.

The lighting ceremony was followed by the Luzon semifinals of the GMA national talent search “Bet ng Bayan,” hosted by sultry singer Regine Velasquez.

The taped segment won by Renz Robosa of San Carlos City over Batangas bet Katerine Castillo will be broadcast on the GMA network on Dec. 7.