"Manny is strong right now. His right hand is just as strong as his left right now and it's ridiculous. Now I see how he knocked Hatton out. I mean, he hit him with a left hand, but I see how he hurt him with the right hooks. Manny has really been working on that right hook. I'ma tell you, Manny is going to shock a lot of people...Miguel is the bigger, stronger guy, more physical, but I tell you what, Manny's so explosive with his power, it's ridiculous," stated rising welterweight Rashad Holloway as he talked about his sparring with Manny Pacquiao just days before his own fight tonight on ESPN against Gato Figueroa. Check it out!
BT: How was it working with Manny?
RH: It was great. You know, me and Manny did over 80 rounds for that De La Hoya fight so I know Manny really well. I mean, Manny's aggressive. I'ma tell you something, Manny's strong right now. His right hand is just as strong as his left right now and it's ridiculous. Now I see how he knocked Hatton out. I mean, he hit him with a left hand, but I see how he hurt him with the right hooks. Manny has really been working on that right hook. I'ma tell you, Manny is going to shock a lot of people. A lot of people think he's going to win the fight anyway, but what catches you off guard with Manny is his foot speed. Manny can close the gap so quick. You think you're out of range, next thing you know, Manny's right on your ass. Like Manny, his leg speed and foot speed is phenomenal. Like I've never seen anybody close the gap like that.
BT: Wow. Well he ain't going to shock me. I actually think he's going to stop Cotto in the 10th, but that's a different story (laughing). Do you think that, I mean, you're fighting Gato and most would say that he's not a true 147-pounder, so is that the same with Manny? Do you think he should be fighting at 140 or does he fit in good at 147?
RH: Let me tell you something, you can't even put them two in the same setence.
BT: (Laughing)
RH: Manny is strong, you know what I mean? Manny is very strong. Manny is very strong. Not physically strong, but he's very explosive. He's a hard puncher; a very hard puncher. Manny has that explosive power that hurts you. Margarito, he has a thudding power that wears on you and breaks you down and Manny is just the opposite. Manny catches you with a shot that you don't see and it's so explosive, you don't recover. Manny is really crafty. He can carry the punch. He's not physically that strong, but he can carry the punch. He's physically strong enough. Of course, Miguel is the bigger, stronger guy, more physical, but I tell you what, Manny's so explosive with his power, it's ridiculous.
BT: You've worked with Manny in the past and Gato worked with Cotto in the past. With your fight being so close to their fight, I think you guys are going to get some good exposure tonight.
RH: It is. It's kind of like the battle of the sparring partners, but you know what? I'm trying to step out of that whole sparring partner shadow. Like I told people before, me, I had 111 amateur fights, you know what I mean? So I was around for a little while. I had a lot of experience against a lot of top guys and even guys that are just prospects now or on their way to being world champions now. Let's just say I've earned the reputation of being a tough guy in the gym and being a very talented fighter, but I used it moreso for experience. I didn't go in trying to get a paycheck and be somebody's sparring partner. I wanted to test myself and see what level I was at. I said, "Look, I want to get in with these great fighters. If this guy is the best in the world, let me get in. I want to see how I do." And once I got in with the first one, it was just a domino effect. Everbody was like, "Oh my God. This kid is giving him hell. Who is this kid? This kid can fight. How many fights has he had?" They couldn't believe it. So it went from one person to the next to the next and all I wanted to do is see different styles and just see where I was as a fighter, you know what I mean? I've accomplished what I needed to accomplish. I've done that and I'm moving on past the sparring partner thing. As far as working with Manny for this one, you know, Freddie asked me to when they came back, but moreso it was for me. I needed it for me to be in there with a short southpaw and just to see a different look. Just really, it's an honor for me to be in there with Manny for the last week before my fight. It was great.
[ Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @fighthype ]