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PPV BOXING: Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar Larios Saturday, July 1
“The Thrilla in Manila” -- nearly 31 years ago. Pacquiao, a world champion in three different weight divisions, will be defending his WBC International super featherweight title and mandatory challenger position against former world champion and No. 1 contender Larios, Saturday, July 1 (Sunday, July 2 in The Philippines) in the main event of a card which will be televised live on Pay-Per-View in the United States, beginning at 9 P.M. ET / 6 P.M. PT from The Philippines.
Filipino knockout sensation Manny Pacquiao returns to fight in front of his hometown fans where he faces hard-hitting Oscar Larios on July 1st, at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines. The WBC International super featherweight title fight will be broadcast live on USA PPV
WBC International Super Featherweight Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao (39-2-2, 31 KO's), General Santos City, Philippines. 27-year-old 5'6" southpaw, 130 pounds. Trainer Freddie Roach, managed by Shelly Finkel.
Style: Pound for pound Pacquiao just might be the hardest hitter in the sport. He is a banger/slugger but what sets him apart is his hand speed and his accuracy. He throws wicked three, four and five punch combinations that simply detonate on impact. Because he is a southpaw his shots are coming at you from different angles and unlike most lefthanders he isn't cute or stylish. He will come right at you firing whistling hooks and staggering left crosses from the opening bell.
Strength: Pacquiao is the complete athlete if you are looking for an action fighter. He throws devastating shots with both hands and he delivers the goods with withering accuracy. Pacquiao's best punch may be his jackhammer left cross; that's the shot that both Barrera and Marquez didn't have an answer for when they squared off with the Filipino star. Pacquiao is at his best when he is moving and throwing wicked combinations. He excels at firing and landing a hard left to the body followed by a whistling right hook to the chin. Pacquiao can put you on the deck with either hand, or grind you down with combinations.
Weakness: Pacquiao gets hit and part of his allure just like Arturo Gatti, is that he is constantly in high action bouts. He has been on the deck several times over the course of his career and in the past he has been vulnerable to counter right hands. When he controls the tempo of the fight Pacquiao can dictate pace and the punch output. However, as in the Marquez fight, when the action slows down and his opponent starts landing his jab Pacquiao struggles. There are always a number of demands on Pacquiao's time and given he's the biggest star in the Philippines there is always the question if he has had enough time to focus his energy on his job inside the ropes.
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Challenger Oscar Larios (56-4-1, 36 KO's) Guadalajara, JA, Mexico. 29-years-old, 5'8" 122 pounds, trainer of record Edison Reynoso, manager José Reynoso.
Style: Larios is a standup banger/boxer that likes to come forward and unload with both hands. Larios is a high-energy action pugilist that has a history of being in very entertaining fights. Larios has a sharp left jab that fuels a wicked right cross and can put opponents on the seat of their trunks.
Strength: Larios is a gritty and talented pro with a wicked right hand when he gets the distance and finds the target. Larios has an underrated left jab and has evolved from a banger to a more polished boxer but he still likes to let his hands go. In his last six victories he has gone the distance five times, however, if Larios traps you on the ropes, or in the corner he can hurt you with a trip hammer left hook to the ribs, liver and head.
Weakness: It will be almost seven months since Larios suffered a brutal gash over his left eye in his loss to Vazquez. The general rule of thumb is that a cut heals 1% a day, so it takes a little over three months for the tissue to totally regenerate. However, some boxers tend to cut more easily and old wounds tend to re-open because of scar tissue. It doesn't help Larios that he tends also to drop his hands slightly when he pulls the trigger on his left hook. Simply put Larios has had 61 pro fights and at 29, he is an older fighter.
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Larios is guaranteed a $450,000 purse, the biggest in his career, while the multi-millionaire Pacquiao will 'only' get $1 Million dollars, which is less than what he got from the rematch with Erik Morales
Last edited by PHONETOOL : 09-24-2006 at 09:49 PM.
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PPV BOXING: Pacquiao vs. Larios Saturday, July 1
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