The trainer who fixed a busted Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao shows off his abdominal muscle after training inside the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California on Saturday afternoon. Pacquiao and Bradley will be fighting for the third time on April 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

HOLLYWOOD—Flashback to the early years: Manny Pacquiao was down; Emil Romano was there to pick him up.

Having been a fighter before, Romano knew in his trainer’s heart that Pacquiao was headed for the big time.

What he didn’t foresee was Pacqui-ao’s transformation into a global icon.

Romano thought that the young Pacquiao, though skillful and brave, was a braggart and too hard-headed.

Abandoned by his trainer and manager after losing his WBC world flyweight title for being overweight and then getting knocked out by Thai Medgoen Singsurat in 1999, Pacquiao turned to Romano for help.

Romano agreed on one condition: Pacquiao should obey orders.

Their brief partnership turned out to be a fruitful one.

Pacquiao racked up TKO wins over Reynante Jamili in 1999, and then against Arnel Barotillo, Chae Seung-kon and Nadal Hussein the next year.

Romano was supposed to accompany Pacquiao to his first fight in the United States in 2001 but begged off in deference to the wishes of Pacquiao’s new manager, the late Rod Nazario.

Nazario wanted Romano, now 51, to supervise the training of Abner Cordero and Zarlit Rodrigo, two WBC Intercontinental champions.

Finally given the opportunity to watch Pacquiao in the US, Romano offered unsolicited advice.

“He must always use his right (hand) before the left, that’s his lethal weapon,” Romano said in Filipino. “He should throw lead right jabs. That way, Bradley will open up for his left. A left upper or left cross will do the job.”

On seeing Pacquiao at a Japanese restaurant here Sunday, Romano said his former ward looked in top shape.

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