Pacquiao impresses Arum
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Mar 2011
BAGUIO CITY ? ?Manny can fight next week.?Promoter Bob Arum declared after witnessing the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao work out at the Shape Up Gym at the Cooyeesan his Hotel here.
Pacquiao had so impressed Top Rank big boss with the way trainer Freddie Roach and condition coach Alex Ariza conducted the day?s training that the Hall of Fame promoter pronounced his ward ready to fight challenger Shane Mosley even next week.
Pacquiao and Mosley fight on May 7 in Las Vegas.
?He?s incredible, I?m amazed how Freddie and Alex have been working on him for only a week,? the Harvard law graduate told sportswriters after the three-hour workout that also served as the only media day scheduled in Pacquiao?s training stint in the country.
?And to think that he only had one week in the gym. Unlike last year when I visited him in his final week here in Baguio when he looked out of shape,? he said.
Arum was referring to his visit here last year during the World Boxing Organization champion?s preparations for his fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito when the Pacman looked sluggish and seemingly out of sync.
He even predicted then that if the fight would have been held the following week, Pacquiao would have lost unless drastic changes in his regimen were done.
?This year he?s different. He looks relaxed, happy and enjoying what he and his handlers were doing,? Arum observed. ?Well, Freddie is Freddie and Manny is Manny. They?ve been working together for a decade so they should know each other very well.?
Arum said that Pacquiao was fantastic with his right hand, which he said could be his main weapon against Mosley who he expects to come out fighting and engage the Filipino ring icon in a toe-to-toe battle.
?His right is terrific. He?s using it very well which augurs well against Mosley, who I?m sure is preparing to defend against what he knows is Manny?s main arsenal, his left,? Arum said.
Arum added Pacquiao is fast regaining his power and his speed, weapons, he added, that will further mesmerized his Californian crown pretender. Arum though said Team Pacquiao should be in Los Angeles by April 2 so he can concentrate more on his preparations.
Looking at the crowd, most of them onlookers and autograph hunters that almost filled the gym despite the day was billed as media day, Arum said this is the kind of distraction that should be not be interfering in his training.
?Distractions like these are the least Manny needs because of the kind of fight and the kind of fighter he will be facing. As I have been saying, Mosley is no pushover. He is a strong fighter hungry for a victory to prepare him for future money fights,? he reasoned out.
?Manny should not underestimate Mosley, who has his own agenda in challenging Manny. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight. So I want Manny to prepare well in order to win,? he cautioned.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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