YOUNG SPARRING PARTNERS TO PUSH PACQUIAO TO THE LIMIT
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Mar 2015
LOS ANGELES - Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has hired younger sparring mates to train Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao balls-to-the-wall in preparation for his May 2 mega fight against undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
?I decided to get young fighters as sparring mates to push him (Pacquiao) to the limit. Young fighters have better stamina and more aggressive,? Roach told a handful of reporters during an interview Monday afternoon.
Two of the six sparring mates lined up by Roach against Pacquiao will strut their wares during the scheduled first sparring session today.
Pacquiao?s sparring session is done thrice a week ? every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday are devoted to Pacquiao?s physical conditioning particularly in further enhancing his strength, stamina and speed.
Roach claimed that everyday he is studying video tapes of Mayweather?s previous fights.
?Everyday, I am reviewing the video tapes of Mayweather?s previous fights. We want to win this fight and we want it via knock-out,? Roach said.
Roach declared that he had already studied even Mayweather?s dirty tactics using both his elbows and shoulders.
Sparring mates scheduled to trade leather gloves with Pacquiao today were identified as ?Speedy? Rashidi Ellis (13-0, 10 KOs) and Kenneth Simms, Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs).
?Both fighters are tall and young at 21. They are gifted with power and blazing hand speed and can simulate Floyd?s fighting style,? Roach added.
The 5?9 Ellis, a native of Lynn, Massachusetts, had impressive boxing records which include a 2012 National Police athletic League Championship crown, three-time New England Golden Gloves Championship plum, Rocky Marciano Amateur Boxing Tournament title and a silver medal at the Independent Cup in the Dominican Republic.
The 5?10 Sims, Jr. from Chicago, Illinois, was an eight-time national amateur boxing champion.
The names of four other sparring partners are being kept under wraps in the light of the reported bribe attempts by Mayweather?s camp to dissuade them from helping Pacquiao?s camp.
Today?s sparring would just be four to five rounds against the two young promising boxers.
Roach described that his prized pupil is in good physical condition after taking over his training more than a week ago.
Roach credited conditioning coach Justine Fortune, assistant trainer Retituto ?Buboy? Fernandez and training aide Roger ?Haplas? Fernandez for doing a ?great job? while he was away in Macau, China.
?The training team has really done a good job. He (Pacquiao) was already in good shape when I took over,? Roach bared.
Roach noticed that since they made a successful tandem more than a decade ago, ?Manny has never been so motivated as a fighter. He has never been in superb physical condition than this time.?
Roach claimed he can feel it the way Pacquiao works with him in the punch mitts.
?I can see it in his eyes. I can read based on his body language and attitude in training that he really wants to win and win decisively,? Roach revealed.
The seven-time trainer of the year further disclosed that Pacquiao is very attentive and responding well on the fight strategy that they wanted to execute.
?I have never seen in him this kind of attitude and efforts during our previous training camps. He?s the type of guy who will never say anything bad against his opponent. But I could feel that Manny dislikes this guy Mayweather,? Roach stated.
Roach believes that Pacquiao?s antipathy was born out of Mayweather?s bigheadedness ? dictating the terms and conditions, purse split and everything prior to signing the fight contract.
Pacquiao vowed to put an end to Mayweather?s bravado.
?I want to teach him (Mayweather) a lesson. We are nothing without God,? Pacquiao said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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