MANILA, Philippines - Jose Benavidez, the 2009 National Golden Gloves light-welterweight champion who just turned pro, was supposed to provide some challenge for Manny Pacquiao in sparring yesterday.
But the 17-year-old, 5-foot-11 American, who carries an impressive 120-5 record as an amateur, was taken to school by the Filipino pound-for-pound champion at the Wild Card Gym.
“Pinag-laruan ( He toyed with the guy),” said Pacquiao’s pointman in Los Angeles, former Manila sports scribe Winchell Campos.
“He was supposed to be a phenom,” added Campos of Benavidez who fought his first professional fight only last month, knocking out fellow rookie Steven Cox right in the opening round.
Benavidez, now being trained by Freddie Roach, should pick things up in the next few days and weeks of sparring.
Pacquiao sparred two rounds with Benavidez, another two with Brian Brooks, and three more with another sparring partner which no one from within Team Pacquiao could name.
Campos said Shawn Porter, who played a big role in Pacquiao’s preparations for the Miguel Cotto fight last November, is set to come in and take the lead role in sparring.
So far, Pacquiao has logged 16 rounds in three days of sparring which is held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays behind closed doors.
The 31-year-old Pinoy icon is only in his second week of training and already he has looks like he’s been training for a month now.
“Very impressive. He’s now working on his timing,” said Campos of the boxer who trains like no other.