SA ikalalawang pagkakataon, makakalaban ni Manny Pacquiao ang isang boxer na sumailalim sa isang medical procedure na may kinalaman sa paglalagay ng metal plate sa isang maselang bahagi ng katawan.
Napag-alaman ng Balita na may titanium plate sa lalamunan si Jeff Horn, ang 29-anyos na kalaban ni Pacquiao na kaniyang natamo matapos ang isang freak sparring accident noong February 2016.
Ngunit, sa isang exclusive telephone interview ng Balita, tiniyak ni trainer Glenn Rushton na may clearance na sa mga doctor si Horn matapos ang nasabing surgery.
“We got medical clearance on it. Obviously it always there so it’s a worry. It’s one of those things like anyone who got a medical plate, it’s always a concern,” ani Rushton “You have to live and do what you are born to do and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
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Noong 2003 halos hindi natuloy ang laban ni Pacquiao kay Marco Antonio Barrera ng Mexico matapos mabunyag na may metal plate sa ulo ang Mexican superstar dahil sa isang abnormal vein na tinanggal noong 1997.
Sa kabila nito ay binigyan ng clearance si Barrera na nakalaban pa ng halos walong taon matapos ang 2003 discovery.
“That was a challenge we had to overcome that and it took a lot of preparation and certainly a lot of long talks with Jeff after that. We got to a point where he became mentally and physically ready,” dagdag ni Rushton.
Samantala, fully recovered na si Horn sa issue, patunay nito ang three-fight win-streak na kaniyang naitala matapos ang operasyon.
Kasama sa nasabing mga panalo ang 7th round TKO win ni Horn kontra former world champion Randall Bailey na naganap halos dalawang buwan lamang matapos ang operasyon.
“That’s the character of Jeff Horn, he is a determined and competitive man and he showed a lot of courage after that,” ani Rushton. “The titanium plate is still there by the way but it’s just one of those battle scars.”
Maghaharap sina Pacquiao at Horn sa isang 12-round bout para sa WBO World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown ngayong July 2 sa Suncorp Stadium sa Brisbane, Australia. (Dennis Principe)
