NO DRAMA IN TRAINING CAMP
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Apr 2009
San Francisco, CA?It?s business as usual for Manny Pacquiao with just one month remaining to his mega fight against Jr. Welterweight champion, Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao came into training camp, which started last month, in shape and all reports from the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood are positive.
Pacquiao will move down in weight from 147lbs weight limit to 140lbs weight limit. In his last fight against Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao weighed in at 142lbs at the official weigh-in. During that training camp, Team Pacquiao had to come up with a game plan to properly condition Pacquiao to handle 147lbs. Led by conditioning coach Alex Ariza, Pacquiao had plyometrics training and a new diet. The results were amazing as Pacquiao maintained his lighting speed at the higher weight.
Many say that Pacquiao, at 30 years old, is in the prime of his career and could not look as good as he did against De La Hoya. However, Pacquiao fought at an unnatural weight against an opponent four inches taller. Against Ricky Hatton, who may be physically bigger but is around the same height and reach as Pacquiao, and at 140lbs, we may see Pacquiao at an even higher level at a more natural weight class.
Going into this training camp, the focus has been more on strategy and game plan and less on Manny jumping up in weight. Currently, undefeated Urbano Antillon, 25-0 (18 KOs), has been pegged as the main sparring partner for Pacquiao. Antillon is an aggressive fighter who likes to use his strength, like Hatton, to be effective. According to Rob Peters, Team Pacquiao enforcer, a Philly fighter named, ?Tito?, has been thrown in there with Pacquiao as the designated ?big man? sparring partner.
Long time Pacquiao sparring partner, David Rodela, is also being used to mimic Ricky Hatton?s style. Rodela has spared with Hatton in the past and is familiar with Hatton?s tendencies in the ring. On of the benefits of training at the Wild Card Gym and in the Southern California area is that Freddie Roach has plenty of sparring partners in the bullpen ready to fill in when needed. Pacquiao has been known for going more rounds than what was originally scheduled for that day?s training.
Peters said that Manny?s conditioning is great as usual under the guidance of Alex Ariza, who is always ?lights out?. Peters also praised the addition of former heavyweight champion, Michael Moorer. As Pacquiao is in deep and serious training, an authoritative figure like Moorer makes everyone?s life so much easier. Peters describes Moorer as the ?best thing since canned beer?. Peters also praised the work of Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Winchell Campos, and the rest of Team Pacquiao for keeping Manny focused in the gym and as relaxed as possible outside the gym.
Top photo: TEAM PACMAN (L-R): Michael Moorer, Pacquiao, Buboy Fernandez, Freddie Roach and Nonoy Neri at the Wildcard Gym training camp for the Hatton fight on May 2. Photo by Miguel Salazar / MP Promotions.
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