Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Pacquiao beats virus, continues to train

By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Oct 2010



It was Manny Pacquiao?s turn to allay fears of trainer Freddie Roach and his team that he was in no shape to complete his second week of altitude training in Baguio City.

Showing all is well following a brief bout with flu that cancelled his scheduled workout Wednesday, the Pacman appeared at the Shape Up Gym inside the Coyessan Hotel yesterday for his scheduled sparring that had Roach smiling from ear-to-ear after a three-hour session.

?He was still gasping for air, but that?s explainable after suffering from cold and slight fever the day before,? Roach said. ?He?s okay and I?m sure we can recover lost time by week?s end.?

Pacquiao, who will be facing Mexican Antonio Margarito Nov. 13 in Texas for the vacant World Boxing Council superwelterweight title, sparred three rounds each against junior-welter Glen Tapia and junior-middleweight Michael Medina and looked still tired.

As Roach promised, a stricter measure to avoid fans entering the gym despite having the doors closed, was implemented with no allowed one inside, except his handlers.

Even the HBO television team filming the training for its 24/7 program was barred from entering the gym during sparring.

The four-time ?trainer of the year? honoree of the Boxing Writers Association of America did not say whether he will push through with his plan to impose curfew on all members of Team Pacquiao to avoid anyone from contacting virus prevalent in the rainy season.

Roach blamed Pacquiao?s contact with so many persons inside and outside the gym as well as in basketball court as reason for suffering from slight flu.

That raised the seven-division champ?s total sparring rounds to 14 counting the eight he did in the first two days with Tapia and Medina, which Roach said was just enough to reach their target before the slated date for his duel with the tough, hard-hitting Mexican set at the Texas Cowboys? Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

?That?s just right. We don?t intend to cover 150 rounds which we did last year in our preparation against (Miguel) Cotto anyway,? Roach said. ?We?ll be making less than 150 rounds in this fight. Maybe 110 or a bit more.?

Short stretching session with physical conditioning coach Alex Ariza and a brief shadow boxing completed the day?s work. To preserve his ward?s strength, Roach canceled doing the routine mitts.

Among those admitted during the workout was Pacquiao?s Wild Card stablemate Amir Khan who flew in yesterday from Los Angeles.

Contrary to earlier reports, Khan will be here to train with Roach for his coming fight this December and not as one of Pacquiao?s sparring partner, although if and when the need arises, he might also utilize his younger ward.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
    Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
    Mon, 15 Dec 2025
  • NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
    Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
    By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
    Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
    Sun, 14 Dec 2025
  • Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
    By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
    Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
    Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Nesthy faces Indon legend
    By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
    Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
    Sat, 13 Dec 2025
  • SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025