Spar mate predicts Pacquiao KO victory

Gloferson Ortizo. Photo by Roy Luarca

HOLLYWOOD—Getting laid-off from work opened up a window of opportunity for budding boxer Gloferson Ortizo, who was hired as one of Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners in his preparation for Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Wild Card Gym here.

The Bacolod-born Ortizo sparred for three rounds with Pacquiao on Thursday, completing the Filipino icon’s six-round sparring for the day. The other three were provided by Speedy Roger Gonzalez (28-6, 18 KOs).

Though he has only four fights to his credit, he won three times and drew one—the 29-year-old Ortizo said he has good martial arts background as a former kickboxer.

Pitted against Pacquiao, however, he realized just how inadequate his skills are.

“I’ve never encountered somebody with such speed and power,” said Ortizo, a father of four who is married to a nurse and calls Orange County home.

“He threw combinations that I couldn’t even see,” said Ortizo, who also helped train former world welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov, Viktor Postol and Raymundo Beltran.

According to Ortizo, Pacquiao will beat Mayweather either by stoppage or knockout.