PACQUIAO FIRST DAY OF SPARRING: "I FELT THOSE BODY SHOTS" - HALLOWAY (With Photos)
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Oct 2008
Los Angeles, CA: As per schedule, Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao started his sparring sessions this afternoon at the Wildcard Gym.
Pacquiao, wearing his favorite white with red trim Nike shoes and shorts, and his custom made green colored gloves, matching groin and head protector, and a handsome brownish red T-shirt, climbed the ring at the Wildcard Gym on schedule, just before 1:30PM.
Waiting for him on the ring is super welterweight Rashad Holloway (9-1-0, 5KOs), the 5?10 fighter hired by Freddie Roach to mimic the Golden Boy and give Pacquiao a hard work out.
The sparring session was slow in the beginning with Pacquiao seemingly trying to adjust to the height and the longer reach of Holloway. Pacquiao seemed content in measuring the distance before he threw his jabs.
In a short while, Pacquiao adjusted nicely and the spirited exchange of punches begun. Pacquiao would move in, tag his opponent on the head and face and move out to avoid the counter shots coming his way. The punches that he can not avoid were blocked by his gloves. Some however, got through and Pacquiao took them in stride.
Some of those that got through appeared to be power shots and they did not seem to bother the Pacman. Although, they may not be as strong as those expected to be delivered by de la Hoya, it seem that Pacquiao has the capacity to take and absorb blows from super welterweight.
After the sparring, Halloway was quoted as saying that the Pacman ?is too fast and very strong. I felt those body shots.?
As usual, only a select few people were allowed in the gym. The only noteworthy media people there were the crew from ESPN and Philboxing.
It is perhaps the presence of ESPN that kind of limited what Pacquiao showed in terms of technique and it does not take an Einstein to figure out why.
At the end of the session, members of Team Pacquiao appeared elated, particularly Buboy Fernandez. ?Happy ako sa pinakita ni Boss, kahit first day pa lang (I am happy with what the boss showed today, even if it's only the first day)," he said.
Pacquiao indeed had a good first sparring day. But, that in a way. was expected.
Top photo: Pacquiao (R) tags the 5'-10" Holloway with a right during their sparring session today at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
All photos by Miguel Salazar / MP Promotions.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 29 Jan 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
Wed, 28 Jan 2026Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 28 Jan 2026JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
Wed, 28 Jan 2026