By Ronnie Nathanielsz
CELEBRATED Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach was very happy with what he saw from eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao after he sparred nine rounds with three different sparring partners and followed up with eight rounds on the punch-mitts on Saturday.
Top Rank publicist Fred Sternburg relayed the information to the BoxingScene.com/Standard after speaking with Roach. Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao on the speedball.
Roach’s assistant trainer Marvin Somodio said that Pacquiao sparred two rounds with 21-year-old Chicago native Kenneth Simms Jr., who has a record of 5-0 with 2 knockouts, followed by four rounds with a welterweight by the name of “Kendre,” who is also undefeated with a record of 12-0 with 5 knockouts, and three rounds with a fighter from San Diego, whose name the trainer wasn’t sure of.
“Manny was good,” said Somodio.
Despite it being a long week, Somodio said Pacquiao followed the fight strategy for the showdown with undefeated pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2.
American trainer Rick Staheli, who steered Pacquiao to his first world title when he scored an eighth-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxing Council flyweight crown on Dec. 3, 1998, has expressed some concern over reports that Pacquiao has been suffering from recurring cramps in his calves.
“Pacquiao should stop training like he’s 25,” said Staheli, who noted the cramps may be caused by a lack of potassium or an imbalance in salt.
He said the decision to turn to sprints on the track oval is “spot on.”
At the same time, Staheli wondered whether Mayweather’s decision to recruit Alex Ariza as his strength and conditioning coach may backfire.
He said Ariza, who worked with Pacquiao during a rousing run when he demolished David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, may put Mayweather “into untraveled waters and this may hurt him in fight night.”
Staheli noted that because of the magnitude of the Fight of the Century, both Pacquiao and Mayweather are “trying too hard and because of the way they train, may leave something in the gym.”
