PACQUIAO ENTERS SEMI-HARD PHASE OF TRAINING
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Aug 2007
CEBU CITY--Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao has entered what trainers call the "semi-hard" phase of his training for his October 6 return showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera, and looks every inch ready to put in the hard work as he continues to work out at the Rex 'Wakee' Salud gym here.
Pacquiao did not spar yesterday, but did three rounds of shadow-boxing, banged away at the mitts for ten rounds although trainer Freddie Roach scheduled only a 7-round session, did ten minutes with the speedball and another ten minutes skipping rope.
Aside from Roach and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, former two-division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa has also joined the team to contribute his expertise in making sure Barrera does not get his much-cherished revenge on the Filipino icon.
Pacquiao was also elated when Bacolod Representative Monico Puentebella dropped by at the gym yesterday to see how he was doing in training.
Pacquiao (R) doing the double-end speedball routine as trainers Roach (L) and Fernandez look on. An interested onlooker is Bacolod City congressman Monico Puentebella (2nd from right) who dropped by Salud's gym yesterday.
Pacquiao's Mexican sparmates Raymundo Beltran and David Rodela (L) prepare themselves for today's sparring session with Manny.
"Manny looks good. He's in great form. But he should know how to pace himself in training," said Puentebella after observing from ringside Pacquiao's almost three-hour session.
Pacquiao is set to spar today against Mexican sparmates David Rodela and Raymundo "Sugar" Beltran.
Roach also noted that he might bring in a Filipino sparmate--Arniel Tinampay, nationally-rated fighter who has been sparring against Pacquiao when he trained for big fights in Davao City.
"I might also decide to call in Speedy Gonzalez much earlier, depending on how these two Mexican boys hold up against Manny. It might be sooner or later," Roach said when asked as to when the third Mexican sparmate is set to arrive.
Pacquiao looked jovial yesterday all throughout the session, a stark contrast to his workouts the last several days.
"Mas nagustuhan kasi ni Manny yung mag train at 3PM, kasi hindi na masyadong mainit ang araw. Pag mag start kami ng maaga, masyadong mainit kaya nahirapan siya," said Fernandez.
Meanwhile, an HBO crew is set to arrive on Tuesday in Cebu, and will film Pacquiao's training on Thursday and Friday next week as part of the 24/7 program they are preparing for the rematch at Mandalay Bay.
"They are arriving on Tuesday, and will film on Thursday and Friday. They're going to do a 24/7 for this fight," said Roach.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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