Pacquiao retains unbeaten Porter, Rodela as sparring partners

By Alex P. Vidal

Whether fighting for the 147-lb or 154-lb title, Rep. Manny Pacquiao faces the same sparring partners tasked to smoother his ribcage and breadbasket and administer to him a real physical punishment while revving up for a world title fight in his training camp.

Unbeaten welterweight prospect Shawn Porter (18-0. 13 KO’s) and lightweight phenom David Rodela (15-3, 6 KO’s) have been with Team Pacquiao since the hard-hitting Filipino lefty prepared for his December 8, 2008 duel with Oscar De La Hoya.

Canadian Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s chief factotum, facilitated for the sparring partner’s Philippine trip every time Pacquiao trained in Baguio City.

The two provide a balance in Pacquiao’s preparations against welterweight and junior middleweight rivals because of their contrasting styles, it was reported.

The services of Rodela and Porter have bore positive results in Pacquiao’s last four fights thus they were retained and allowed to accompany Pacquiao in the Philippines, Koncz said.

Rodela and Porter have started trading mitts with the 32-year-old Pacquiao for four rounds each as the Baguio City training comes to a conclusion first week of April.

‘FULL COURT PRESS’

They were scheduled to apply a “full court press” on Pacquiao April 2 before the popular Filipino boxer departs for the phase two of his build-up in Hollywood, California second week of April.

Porter, 23, is scheduled to fight on June 7 in Southhaven, Mississippi against a still unnamed opponent.

He beat Anges Adjaho by 10-round unanimous decision in Maryland, USA last February 18, 2011 to retain the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) welterweight crown.

Porter, a black fighter like Mosley, captured the NABF crown on a 9th round TKO win over Hector Munoz in Oklahoma, USA on October 15, 2010.

In his last fight, Rodela, 28, of Oxnard, California, drew with Juan Montiel at Staples Center in Losa Angeles, California on September 18, 2010.

Rodela’s three defeats were inflicted by Hector Leyva (KO4), Eloy Perez (unanimous decision 10), and Dante Jardon (TKO3).