Manny Pacquiao. AP Photo/Reed Saxon
HOLLYWOOD—Kevin Hoskins was taken in to provide Manny Pacquiao the speed test. He left the ring astonished and astounded.
“He’s too fast,” said the promising super featherweight who sparred for four rounds with Pacquiao Monday. “I was told to do a lot of head movement, but in the end I could not do anything because his footwork and angles are crazy.”
Not only that, the 21-year-old Hoskins, who holds a 6-win, 1-loss record with four KOs, felt the sting of the punches the eight-division world champ rained on his face.
“Ridiculous power, it comes so fast I compare it to a Lamborghini. It hits so hard and so fast,” said Hoskins, whose elongated arms failed to find its target most of the time during the sparring.
“He’s very strong. The straights, left hooks, the uppercuts, everything.”
Gauging from the beating he absorbed, the 5-foot-9½ Hoskins predicted that Pacquiao will eventually knock Bradley out, the earliest in the sixth round.
“It (sparring) was a great experience,” said Hoskins. “I would have done it even for free.”