By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach couldn’t have asked for anything more as Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao went ten hard rounds at the Gerry Penalosa Gym in Mandaluyong City and looked better than ever before according to conditioning guru Alex Ariza.
Pacquiao sparred six rounds with light middleweight Shawn Porter and two rounds each with Jose Luis Castillo and Escobar.
Ariza said Roach was "really very pleased because Manny stayed off the ropes against Porter, kept the fight in the middle of the ring and moved really well" despite the fact that the ring was small compared to the standard ring at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where Pacquiao will begin training next week.
Pacquiao had a light workout in the morning and Wednesday in preparation for yesterday’s sparring which was a good thing according to Ariza because he quickly settles into his rhythm.
Ariza said Pacquiao’s last sparring session behind closed doors was "not so good, but today he was exceptional."
After the sparring Pacquiao told Ariza he wants another hard workout at the Rizal Memorial today.
