‘Pacquiao could win with a lucky punch’

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Listen to this: “I don’t believe Manny Pacquiao can beat Jeff Horn unless he can land a lucky punch early.”

Count that as a timely tip or reminder. It didn’t come from veteran promoter Bob Arum, who said he’s at a loss on what Pacquiao plans to do—whether to retire or keep on fighting.

The speaker is the legendary Jeff Fenech, Australian boxing great, who helped plot for Horn in his sensational victory over Pacquiao in Brisbane last July.

Says Fenech: “Although Manny’s got the name and Manny’s the legend, Manny’s time is done, and I knew that.”
How come?

“Jeff showed him. Pacquiao hit Jeff in the ninth round and he was gone. But Manny didn’t have the energy to get out there and finish it off. Jeff went out there and won the next round after nearly getting stomped.”

Fenech says it would be a stronger, bigger, tougher and more vicious Horn Pacquiao would be meeting in the reigning Australian WBO welterweight champion.

“Horn prepares so well, he believes in himself and, after beating someone like Manny Pacquiao, you can only get better,” adds Fenech.

No, Fenech was not telling Pacquiao to retire but, in a way, the Aussie boxing legend was trying to say Pacquiao should seriously consider the time and situation he’s in. Horn is 29, Pacquiao turns 39 next month.

Horn is to fight rugged Engllishman Gary Corcoran for the first defense of his WBO title in Brisbane on December 13.
Pacquiao had initially agreed to a rematch with Horn for Nov. 12, but pulled out of the contracted fight, citing his pressing schedule in the Senate.

Explains Arum: “I will have something for Manny if he decides to fight, but I won’t force him.”

(GRAND REUNION: Seventy prominent alumni of the Manuel Luis Quezon University (MLQU) will be honored in the university’s grand reunion on Nov. 11 at the AB Pavilion of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City. “It’s the 70th founding anniversary of MLQU, which has produced champions, topnotchers and some of the nation’s leaders,” notes veteran newsman Jun Velasco of Dagupan City.)