Manny Pacquiao’s training moved another step up on a day when chief trainer Freddie Roach opted to work like a dog despite a valid reason not to at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.
Roach, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Thursday, worked the mitts for eight rounds with the Filipino southpaw.
Pacquiao and Roach are revving up for a May 2 super showdown between Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton of England.
"Manny’s doing well and I am happy that he is getting used to Michael Moorer during training," said Roach, referring to the presence of the former world light-heavyweight heavyweight champion.
Moorer, 41, will actually be calling the shots at the Wild Card next week as Roach will be away in Manchester to work the corner of British lightweight prospect Amir Khan against Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico on March 14.
Pacquiao brought food for Roach, who expressed gratitude for the act of kindness of the world’s No. 1 fighter pound for pound, and the boxer even led in singing "Happy Birthday" for the Boston-bred cornerman.
In the coming days, Pacquiao will gradually increase the number of rounds in the padwork as he prepares for the day that Roach calls on a new set of sparring partners whose styles mimic that of Hatton’s ultra-aggressive approach.
Roach said Pacquiao should get himself primed and ready for action beginning March 17, the day Pacquiao kicks off his thrice-a-week sparring session.
The highlight of the training should take place sometime in mid-April when Pacquiao spars for 12 rounds and by the time he heads to Las Vegas a week before the fight, he should already have racked up more than 100 rounds of sparring.
Hatton, meanwhile, is already in the thick of training, having been reporting to the gym in Manchester almost daily since coming back from a Caribbean cruise in mid-February.
Source: mb.com.ph
No comments:
Post a Comment