Put up an excellent defense and stand a chance against Manny Pacquiao.
Rafael Mendoza, the seasoned Mexican boxing manager, gave this bit of advice to his former ward Jorge Solis who will climb the ring against the hard-hitting Filipino on April 14 in San Antonio, Texas.
Solis, undefeated in 32 pro fights with 23 knockouts, will face the biggest fight of his life against Pacquiao, this early considered as the overwhelming favorite in the scheduled 12-rounder.
“Jorge needs to be trained in an excellent defensive boxing,” said Mendoza, who has handled 18 world champions, mostly Mexicans, in a checkered career spanning almost 50 years.
“Of course, Solis can put up a great surprise against Pacquiao, a boy with excellent boxing, and with a lot of (good) qualities. But this fight will be very difficult and very dangerous,” added Mendoza.
The Mexican manager was in Manila last year as he stood behind Oscar Larios, who faced Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum, lasting 12 rounds but dropping a unanimous decision.
Mendoza said Pacquiao is favored to win the fight by knockout, although he is confident that Solis, at 5-foot-10, three inches taller than Pacquiao, will put up a good fight.
Meanwhile, Freddie Roach, who is training Oscar dela Hoya for his much-awaited fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May, might still be able to work on Pacquiao’s corner come fight night, according to boxing writer Brad Cooney.
In a recent interview with the noted American trainer, Cooney said Roach informed him that there is a very good chance that he would fly to San Antonio for Pacquiao’s fight against Solis.
