Pacquiao's Camp Winding Down as Hatton Fight Nears

Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao eased up a little bit in training on Monday while preparing for the last two days of intense sparring with under two weeks to go before what may well be a brutal showdown with Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza who got Pacquiao into the best shape of his life for the 9th round annihilation of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz and the 8th round destruction of Oscar De La Hoya last December 6 said “we are going to focus in the next two weeks on speed training, quickness and footwork.”

He said they had taken off the plyometrics and had a “pretty decent day today and Manny is preparing to push himself really hard on Thursday and Saturday” which will be his last two days of sparring.

Trainer Freddie Roach told Ariza and Pacquiao to “go ahead and slow it down a little bit.”

Ariza revealed that undefeated Urbano Antillon who is scheduled to fight on May 1 in Las Vegas will probably be replaced by “ a new Russian kid, a 140 pounder who Freddie used with Amir Khan in preparation for the Marco Antonio Barrera fight. He is a good strong kid who looks like Ricky Hatton’s brother (Matthew Hatton)” but Ariza unfortunately couldn’t remember his name.

Ariza stressed that Pacquiao “hasn’t had a bad day of sparring and is looking great, looking phenomenal.”

Meantime, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who left Manila on Monday night was back in Los Angeles to accompany Pacquiao in his trip to San Francisco for a ‘Filipino Heritage Night’ hosted by the Giants baseball team at AT&T Park on Wednesday, Manila Time.

Thousands of Manny’s ‘Bobbleheads’ will be given away. “There has been an incredible response. Fans are very excited that Manny is coming to our ballpark,” said Faham Zakariaei, the Giants special events director.

Arum, Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach and other Pacquiao team members will take a private jet from Los Angeles to San Francisco. During the pre-game Manny will be on a stage to speak to his Filipino fans. At 7:07 pm local time, Manny will head for the mound and throw out the first pitch. Manny will then head to the press box to watch the Giants take on the San Diego Padres.

Source: boxingscene.com