Manny Pacquiao (L) and Adrien Broner face off during a press conference at Gotham Hall in preparation for their upcoming match on November 19, 2018 in New York City. The match is set to take place on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
HOLLYWOOD—Take it from amateur American fighter Arnold Gonzales: Clashing with Manny Pacquiao is a painful experience.
Gonzales, whose stance and built resemble that of Adrien Broner’s, said the American challenger, a four-division world champion, needs to be in his best shape to stand a chance against the Filipino icon on Feb. 19.
The 25-year-old Gonzales was Pacquiao’s final sparring partner in the training camp here, clashing for four rounds on Saturday.
Gonzales swore he felt the full power of the lone eight-division world champion.
In total, he sparred with Pacquiao for 20 rounds.
“I think he caught me with the hardest shot I have been hit with,” said Gonzales. “He caught me with a left cross. I felt it today, and he connected straight to my face. He did hit me with upper cuts to the body.”
Over the course of three weeks, Gonzales swore Pacquiao was at his sharpest.
“I think he (Pacquiao) stops him in the later rounds, he’s gonna overwhelm Broner, I think,” Gonzales said. “He punches way too much, he switches angles and Broner does not do much. He takes a lot of breaks and stays in the back.”
All in all, Freddie Roach said speed will be the key to Pacquiao retaining his World Boxing Association (WBA) regular welterweight title.
“I said [to head trainer Buboy Fernandez] that we work on speed. Speed is the big factor, that’s gonna be the difference in the fight,” added Roach.
But Gonzales swore that aside from speed, Pacquiao’s timing is also a lethal weapon.
“I mean he (Broner) better be in the best shape of his life because Manny’s gonna be unstoppable. Even though he’s 40 years old, he’s moving in the ring like he’s 20 years young,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales sure knows what he’s talking about.