ONE FC’s Rob Lisita draws inspiration from Manny Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – If Rob Lisita and Manny Pacquiao have something in common, it is that they are both out to redeem themselves from their defeats against Yusuke Kawanago and Timothy Bradley, respectively. Both their fights ended in controversial decisions, and both Pacquiao and Lisita felt that they should have won.

Saying he has always been a Pacquiao fan, Lisita draws inspiration from Manny’s fighting style and he will bringing everything that he learned from Pacquiao in his fight with Kawanago.

“Manny is my hero. To be honest, you wouldn’t believe it but every day before training, I put my laptop against my dresser and  I watch Manny Pacquiao on the mirror so he becomes orthodox,” Lisita said “I’m an orthodox fighter and he is southpaw. I can switch to southpaw too. Maybe I will try it in the fight.”

Like many Pacquiao fans, Lisita believes that Manny should have won the first fight against Bradley and this time around, Pacquiao is more focused than ever. This Sunday, a Pacquiao win won’t surprise him.

“He is fighting Bradley this weekend in a rematch. He should have won the first fight,” Lisita said. “I think Manny can stop him. Manny hurt him many times. I think Manny can beat him with a decision, knockout or whatever. I’m going with Manny 100 percent.... 1000 percent.”

Come May 2, Lisita will be arriving in Manila a week before the fight and he wishes to train in Manny’s gym in Sampaloc, Manila, and take a chance on probably meeting his idol. For now, Lisita is in a debate with his wife on naming their unborn child (if it is a boy), Emmanuel, of course after Pacquiao.

“If I get to meet Manny face to face, it would inspire me even more than anything in the world. My wife is pregnant and in August we will have a baby. I want to name the child Emmanuel if it’s a boy but she doesn’t want it. If I meet Manny, I would call my son Emmanuel,” he explained.

As early as now, Lisita is confident that Manny will be able to beat Bradley and still hopes for a Floyd Mayweather fight even if it seemed impossible. Whatever happens, Pacquiao is the best fighter for Lisita, not Mayweather.

“Mayweather can say right now that he is the best ever because you can’t contest that he hasn’t lost but Manny won world titles in eight different weight classes and they won those titles when those fighters are in their prime. You can say he is the best,” Lisita argued.

A true Pacquiao fan, Lisita even justified why the Filipino pride is a better fighter by predicting what will happen if the dream match pushes through but he also agrees that the possibility of it happening is still dim.

“They say many can’t do well against defensive fighters but Mayweather sits in the corner and hits one time in 30 seconds. If he does that to Manny, he will hit him 30 times. I don’t think the fight will happen,” he said.