Pacquiao doing well in training, will peak in time - Fortune
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Jun 2018
World Boxing Association welterweight challenger Manny Pacquiao is fast peaking and will be in fighting form in time.
This was how strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune assessed the progress of Pacquiao?s preparation for his title showdown with title-defending Lucas ?La Maquina? Mathysse scheduled July 15 a the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
?He?s coming up great. He?s okay and will peak soon,? Fortune told this writer on Tuesday in a long distance call from General Santos City where the former World Boxing Organization 147-pound bet owner has been training the past two weeks.
?We started the camp earlier than we used to in Manny?s previous fights. And it?s turning out to be just the right thing to do,? Fortune said paying tribute to the efforts to chief trainer Buboy Fenandez, Nonoy Neri and Haplas Fernandez in their decision to open the GenSan camp some four weeks ago.
It was Buboy, the eight division world champion now senator's long time assistant trainer and boyhood friend, who thought of starting the build up program in view of Pacquiao?s advanced age.
?There?s no problem with starting the camp early actually provided we cut the hours short,? Fortune added. ?Which we have done. We, likewise, started sparring as early as last week but on a staggered and shortened frequency.?
Sparring started Tuesday last week with three mates ? Australian George Kambosis Jr., Arnel Tinampay and Ricky Sismondo ? taking turns in testing Pacquiao?s speed and power speed and power.
?Last week, we started with four-round session then increased the load to six,? Fortune said by way of explaining the scheme. ?This week, we?ll have eight and the next week, probably eight, 10 and maximum 12.?
?We still have five-six weeks to go, so we?ll implement the program, slowly, but surely to avoid injury,? Fortune assured.
The same procedure applies to other gym activities like working with the mitts, heavy bag, double end and speed balls, which according Fortune won?t exeeced 20 rounds each day.
The roadwork side of the program on physical conditioning is done daily and alternately at the Acharon Sports Center oval and at the mountainous Maasim Hills on Sarangani, respectively.
Photo: Manny Pacquiao spars in General Santos City ahead of his world title showdown against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
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