HYPE TIME IS OVER, SERIOUS WORK BEGINS (WITH PHOTOS)
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 09 Oct 2008
Los Angeles, CA: Today, Wednesday LA Time, just a day after the ?Dream Fight? six city tour concluded, Manny Pacquiao reported to the Wildcard Gym to begin his serious training leading to his December 6th rumble with Oscar de la Hoya.
?It?s Pacquiao time?, one of the Wildcard Gym rats shouted as Pacquiao climbed the ring to begin a 10 round mitt session with Freddie Roach.
One thing that is readily evident even this early in his training camp, Pacquiao looks more solid compared to the days when he was training for his previous fights. He is muscle bound and his body mass appears compact. Indeed, a good sign that he is comfortable with his new found weight class.
?Give him a few weeks?, Buboy Fernandez said ?and you will see how far better he will look. He feels so good about this fight and that will help in his training,? he added.
Pacquiao indeed appeared in good spirits. His 10 rounds mitt session with Roach was amazing and his power is incredible. ?I can feel the power? Roach said when asked about the explosive punches Pacquiao delivered to Roach?s mitts.
Incidentally, I have seen many Pacquiao training camps but I do not remember Roach wearing a body shield to protect himself from the controlled body punches that may stray and hurt him.
Pacquiao started his day with body stretching, isometrics, if you may, supervised by Alex Ariza, the conditioning coach. That was followed by a few rounds of shadow boxing to loosen up before he and Freddie Roach climbed the ring to begin the punch mitts sessions.
After the punch mitts, Pacquiao did the other usual routines, the heavy bag under the eagle eyes of Buboy Fernandez and the speed bags with Nonoy Neri. Then he did the jump ropes followed by cool down exercises before the session ended.
During the whole training session, what was evident is the absence of the usual hordes of people that crowed the gym when Pacquiao trains. But on my way out after the training sessions, the fans were gathered outside waiting to see their hero.
I am sure they will get a few autographs and photos with him. After all, Pacquiao has always accommodated them in the past and there is no reason why he can not do the same this time around.
Top photo: Pacquiao doing the mitts with Roach at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles today.
Pacquiao (L) with conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
Pacquiao doing the stretching.
Pacquiao doing the speed bag.
Pacquiao doing the skipping ropes.
Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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