MANNY KNOWS
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 Oct 2016
Manny knows.
Chief trainer Freddie Roach, echoing the favorite slogan of fighting senator Manny Pacquiao, has been using in his 21-year professional career, last Thursday cancelled one of the most rigorous aspects of his ward's training regimen in an effort to prevent the eight-division champion from getting overworked.
"He knows, so when he asked me to dispense with working with the mitts, I readily consented," Roach told this writer when asked why Pacquiao went directly to he heavy bag and the speed ball right after six rounds of sparring with world-ranked junior-welterweight and local lightweight Leopoldo Doronio.
"That's the beauty of working with Manny, you don't have to feel your way around. He will tell you right away whether to do or not to do something you want him to do," the celebrated trainer said. "He knows when he's had enough and when he still lacks something,"
"That's the reason why both of us have endured each other in more than two decades of working together," Roach who just arrived last Tuesday to take over the management of preparations from assistant Buboy Fernandez, explained. "We complement each other."
Roach though said the situation now is different from the past years. "Manny is now a senator and has more responsibilities like attending sessions in the morning up to middle of the day then train for a fight from there till late evening. If that's not energy-sapping, I don't know what is."
Also cancelled was the scheduled roadwork being held daily at the posh Forbes Park in Makati City under strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune as a means to improve Pacquiao' leg speed and power.
Before Roach set foot in Manila, along with sparring partner Jose Ramirez, Pacquiao had already been in deep training for no less than a month with Buboy and fellow assistants Nonoy Neri and Roger "Haplas" Fernandez.
Pacquiao is seeking to reclaim the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship he held twice from current holder Jessie Vargas November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Ramirez, still unbeaten in 18 fights with 12 KOs since turning pro four years ago, continued feeling Pacquiao's punching power and quickness in Thursday's four rounds of sparring.
"Manny's stronger and faster today, despite complaining of tiredness and body pains," Ramirez noted. "It's still some fours weeks left before the fight and I believe he will be a little bit more powerful and speedier."
Doronio, who sparred for two rounds shared Ramirez's observations, saying, "Ang bigat ng kamay ni Senator Manny at ang bilis. Hindi mo malaman kung saan nanggagaling ang suntok."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 2026