TEAM PACQUIAO INTENSIFIES SPARRING
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 02 May 2012
BAGUIO CITY ? Stamina build up and keeping distance from the enemy highlighted Manny Pacquiao?s training session yesterday in preparation for his coming title fight with undefeated American Timothy Bradley.
Three days before bringing down the curtains in his high-altitude training here, Pacquiao went through with what was his most rigorous day since pitching camp here, doing away with his routine morning roadwork but trading punches with a pair of sparring mates.
The eight-division titleholder traded hard punches with regular mate Ruslan Provodnikov for four rounds to, as chief trainer Freddie Roach put it, to preserve the gains he had so far attained in terms of punching power and quickness.
He had to do two rounds more with Rustam Nugaev, this time, to re-acquire his capability to keep away from his would-be opponent on June 9 with his 147-pound crown at stake.
It marked the first time Pacquiao sparred against two opponents since the skirmish stage of preparations started Thursday last week.
?I told him to do away with the morning run because I?m gonna give him a helluva day later in the day,? Roach told Malaya Business Insight shortly before the start of the sparring session.
?I told him to sleep well the entire morning, which, he obviously did as he showed in his six rounds stint against the two Russians (Provodnikov and Nuvaev). ?That was a hell of a six-round skirmish, proof that he?s coming into shape and that we?re on target.
Pacquiao, with wife Jinkee and party at ringside, ended up the gruelling day with a 30-minute plyometrics routine aimed at building his stamina up a fitting follow up to the equally punishing isometrics round Thursday last week.
?Manny?s coming to it. He?s improving day-by-day and I can see no problem why he can?t be in fighting form when we leave Baguio on Thursday,? Roach said grinning from ear-to-ear, sign that he?s satisfied with what?s going on in the camp.
Roach was referring to the day when the team goes back to Manila Thursday on the way to flying to Los Angeles Saturday.
?Provodnikov continued challenging him power-for-power and strength for strength,? Roach said. ?Nugaev, on the other, hand, besides giving him pointers on how to stay away from his opponent, also challenged Manny?s footwork .
Nugaev is a long-armed lightweight campaigner and used to be one of Pacquiao?s sparring partners in his preparation for his second outing against Erik Morales and against Oscar Larios 10 years ago.
?He?s now a lot stronger than the first time I sparred with him,? Nugaev said.
Provodnikov, for his part, was all praise for the Filipino ring icon?s power and speed.
?He?s getting better and better everyday,? he said as interpreted by Nugaev. ?He?s getting stronger everyday. Getting faster. ?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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