JET-LAGGED PACQUIAO SPARS FOR EIGHT HARD ROUNDS
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Mar 2016
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Last Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) marked the 595th year of the discovery of the Philippines by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.
It was also the day the air-conditioned Araneta Coliseum, then the biggest in Asia, was inaugurated with Filipino simon-pure Gabriel "Flash" Elorde winning the world junior lightweight championship at the expense of Rhode Islands' Harold Gomes via a seventh round knockout victory.
For Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, it was a day when he practically "killed" himself in training for his coming fight with American Timothy Bradley whom he will meet for the third time on April 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vega, Nevada.
Still evidently suffering from jet lag four days after arriving here from Manila Saturday, the 37-year-old former pound-for-pound king of the ring, nevertheless, sparred for eight rounds against Canadian-based Congolese Ghislain Maduma and Lydell Rhodes at four rounds each.
Looking already spent after over 30 minutes of exchanging no-mean punches with his junior welterweight mates, Pacquiao, who is out to recover from his sixth defeat in his 21-year pro-career, spent yet another energy-sapping rounds with heavy bags, double end ball, speed ball before ending the grueling day skipping rope and mat exercises.
Earlier in the day, he was running from his residence at Plymouth Blvd. to Pan Pacific Park where he made several rounds on the way to more stamina-building routines.
"Manny killed himself in training," Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, an assistant of Freddie Roach in his Wild Card Boxing Gym, observed after the day's nearly three-hour session.
"Halatang may jet lag pa, pero sige pa rin ang ensayo gaya nang mga nakaraan niyang laban. Parang walang kapaguran," Somodio said. "Ganyan naman talaga si Manny kung mag-ensayo, parang mauubusan ng oras."
"Manny's really determined to win this coming fight. Determined to win convincingly, that is," Somodio remarked. "Reason maybe why before the sparring, coach Freddie instructed both Maduma and Rhodes to make him work. They did and Manny, responded by giving it all."
"That's nothing naman to Manny. Tutulugan lang niya 'yan. Makita mo bukas malakas pa 'yan sa kabayo pag-resume ng ensayo," he said. "Mabilis maka-recover si Manny. Kahit anong pagod ngayong araw, kinabukasan malakas na naman."
Tired to his bone, Pacquiao retired early that evening that by 8 o'clock, he was already in his room dispensing with his usual entertaining guests which continued trekking their way to his Plymouth mansion come hell and high water.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
Wed, 02 Jul 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
By Eric Armit, Tue, 01 Jul 2025IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Tue, 01 Jul 2025CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
Tue, 01 Jul 2025Dumadag holds chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
By Ace Freeman, Mon, 30 Jun 2025DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
Mon, 30 Jun 2025Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Mon, 30 Jun 2025SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Jun 2025