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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Former Pacman coach sees a lot of promise in Kenneth Llover

Former Pacman coach sees a lot of promise in Kenneth Llover

Published Aug 17, 2025 09:43 am  |  Updated Aug 17, 2025 02:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Renowned strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza sees plenty of promise in undefeated Filipino prospect Kenneth Llover, even after only a short time working with him.
Renowned strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza sees plenty of promise in undefeated Filipino prospect Kenneth Llover, even after only a short time working with him.
Ariza went as far as to say he sees striking similarities between Llover and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, believing the 22-year-old pride of General Trias, Cavite has the potential to become the next multi-division world champion.
“They all have something that they take from Manny that they see in Manny. Kenneth just has probably the right combination of everything. He's got speed already. He has natural power,“ said Ariza.
Ariza was once part of Team Pacquiao and handled the strength and conditioning of the eight-division world champion during his peak years.
He was recently tapped by Gerrypens Promotions to handle Llover’s conditioning for his upcoming bout against two-division world champion Luis Concepcion of Panama.
While Ariza acknowledges that Llover still has areas that need refining, he remains optimistic that the young fighter can harness his raw talent as he progresses in his career.
“Let's not forget, he's just a kid still. I ended up with Manny when he was already 28. We have a long road here. I just think that this is going to be the next kid that's going to follow through the division. From a physiological standpoint. Looking at him, seeing how he's growing,“ Ariza said of Llover.
“You start to envision these things ahead for the next one. To 122, to 126, to 130, and hopefully 135. As a conditioning coach, that's our vision. That's for my part of the team. But he has it,“ he added.
But to do that, of course, Llover needs to go up the ranks in the bantamweight division where Japanese Junto Nakatani reigns, holding the World Boxing Council (WBC) and international Boxing Federation (IBF) belts.
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