By Quinito Henson
LOS ANGELES – Boxing trainer Justin Fortune said the other day the
Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight is too close to call but even
as he saw it 50-50, gave himself away by declaring it will end in a
knockout and the Mexican couldn’t stop the Filipino ring icon.
Fortune, 47, worked as Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach
under trainer Freddie Roach for six years, ending in the knockout over
Jorge Solis in San Antonio in 2007. He had a bitter parting of ways with
Roach over money and both sued each other. Now, Fortune operates his
own sweatshop on Sunset Boulevard, about a 15-minute drive to the Wild
Card Gym.
“Of course, I miss Manny, he’s a friend,” said Fortune whose claim to
fame as a fighter was once battling Lennox Lewis in Dublin in 1995.
“I’d love to work with him again but I don’t think Freddie will like it.
Before the (Timothy) Bradley fight, Freddie’s lawyer Nick Khan asked if
I could rejoin the team. But Freddie will never allow Manny to train in
my gym and I’ll never go to Wild Card. I’m not even sure if Freddie
knew that Nick talked to me. I’ve known Freddie since 1992 – he trained
me as a fighter. I know him better than anyone.”
Fortune said he’s saddened by rumors that there is a lot of
infighting in Pacquiao’s camp. “I heard he’s got a chaotic corner, guys
not liking each other,” said Fortune. “I don’t know if that will affect
Manny’s performance but Manny has to be in control of his team. He can’t
allow a situation where some guys in his team hate each other’s guts.
You look at Marquez’ corner with (Nacho) Beristain who’s very calm.
That’s what Manny will be up against.”
Fortune described Marquez as a consummate boxer. “He can get hurt but
he’s able to rally,” said Fortune. “He has the ability to adjust during
a fight. But I don’t think Marquez has the power to knock out Manny.
Although I’m calling it 50-50, I’m hoping Manny wins. If it goes the
distance, I’m not sure if the judges will give Manny the benefit of the
doubt again because they did in the first three fights. One guy is going
to get knocked out and I’m praying it’s not Manny.”
Fortune recently worked Filipino Drian Francisco’s corner when he
halted Mexico’s Javier Gallo in the fifth round at the Los Angeles
Sports Arena. Francisco is one of four fighters under Fortune’s watch.
The others are Japanese welterweight Kai Zama, Australian lightweight
Michael Katsidis who once decked Marquez in a 2010 bout and Armenian
lightmiddleweight Vito Gasparyan whose record is 14-2-5, with 8 KOs.
Fortune also trains several mixed martial arts fighters, including
Brazilian lightheavyweight Babalu Sobral and
heavyweight Brendan (The
Hybrid) Shaub. His gym is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with Fortune
personally supervising workouts.
Fortune said Francisco, 30, will become a world champion sooner or
later. “He’s tough at 118,” said Fortune. “I would’ve liked him to
challenge (WBA superbantamweight champion Guillermo) Rigondeax. I think
Drian would’ve knocked him out. Rigondeaux is a party guy, loves to stay
out late, drinks and smokes. They almost finalized the fight then
Rigondeaux backed out. Drian hits really hard. He’s wild when throwing
punches but it’s not necessarily a disadvantage. Opponents know how hard
he hits and they’re always on the defensive because Drian is so wild
that he could hit you if you’re not careful. I’d like for Drian to come
back to LA and train so we can make some minor adjustments in how he
fights. We’ll work on his style and defense. His problem is if he fights
someone who bangs like him. But at his weight division, I think he’s
the hardest puncher.”
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