Team Pacquiao shifts to high gear
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Mar 2011
World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao?s preparations for his title-encounter with Sugar Shane Mosley shifts to high gear starting today at the Shape Up Boxing Gym inside Cooyeesan Hotel in Baguio City.
A three-round sparring against undefeated welterweight Shawn Porter, the same man who helped him prepare in his fight against Miguel Cotto two years ago, signals the Pacman?s return to boxing since scoring a unanimous decision win over Mexican Antonio Margarito last November in Dallas.
Chief trainer Freddie Roach doesn?t know whether to pair the pound-for-pound king against his other sparmate, lightweight contender David Rodela, saying in a telephone interview, it would depend on Pacquiao?s condition following a two-day respite from training over the weekend.
Pacquiao was supposed to resume training Saturday at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque City, a day after receiving the ?Quintessential Athlete? Award during Friday?s Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Awards night but cancelled it, precisely to give him rest following a hectic two-week regimen.
He and his team travelled back to the Pines City Sunday.
?He gave himself a two-day rest and I have no quarrel with that. He needs it after almost burning himself out the past two weeks in our efforts to restore his condition after four months of inactivity,? Roach, who waited for his ward for two hours at Elorde?s to no avail Saturday, said.
?We?re way ahead of our schedule anyway, so we thought not going to the gym Saturday and Sunday would, in turn, replenish his strength for a more rigorous next week in Baguio,? the 51-year-old Roach added.
?Our initial weeks in Baguio has been excellent. We?ve attained what we?re targeting to accomplish. There had been little distractions. He?s very happy training and doing what he likes to do. No problem really,? Roach assessed.
Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza concurred, saying the two-day respite could be a ?Blessing in disguise? as Pacquiao enters his crucial stage of his build up program.
?He will be pushing himself twice as hard this coming weeks compared to the past two weeks so that respite could turn out to be better than those who don?t know Manny think,? Ariza said.
Pacquiao himself sounded excited in a separate interview on the way to the country?s summer capital.
?Ang pinaghahandaan naman natin ay mahigit pang isang buwan mula ngayon. So, doon pa sa araw na yun dapat tayong mag-peak o kaya one week before that, ? he told this writer.
?Alam naman naming lahat, ni Freddie, ni Alex at ng naming mga kasama ang gagawin namin para mapaghandaan ang laban kaya hindi dapat magalaala ang marami kung paminsan-minsan ay makapagpahinga ako ng bahagya,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao is putting on the block his WBO welterweight crown against three-division belt-owner Mosley on May 7 in Las Vegas, site of his many great fights for the past decade.
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