By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Manny Pacquiao, determined to get into top shape for the tough challenge posed by the bigger, taller and heavier Antonio Margarito, picked up the pace of his training regimen Friday by jogging uphill for around 45 minutes in the process leaving WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan biting the dust and deciding to take a ride and run only on flat ground.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said Khan “couldn’t keep up with him and jumped in the car three-quarters of the way and got out and jogged when it was flat again. That’s understandable because its only Amir’s first day of training.”
Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza believes that “having Amir Khan next to Manny gives him that extra motivation.”
Ariza said Pacquiao who woke up early morning asked him whether he had “brought the equipment for drills and I told him ‘of course I brought all that stuff.” He said they would “go to the track on Monday and Friday next week which is a much better sign.”
Ariza also mentioned the fact that Pacquiao had four protein shakes Thursday night and had one in the middle of the night and also one this morning before running which “may not be significant to most people but for me its very significant. Now I know he’s ingested more calories . These are big, big steps and are the most important part and I think he is recognizing that. ”
Koncz revealed that Pacquiao went through his regular training regimen the past two days which included six rounds of sparring on Thursday. Koncz said Pacquiuao had a cold for a couple of days and “we decided that instead of pushing him to let him rest.”
Koncz said Pacquiao would drive down to Manila after sparring on Saturday to attend the 101010 Pasig River run organized by Gina Lopez and would return to Baguio later in the day to resume training on Monday.
Ariza said he didn’t know anything about the trip to Manila and neither did trainer Freddie Roach pointing out that in his off day from training Pacquiao should be resting.
Meantime, Koncz said he was doubtful that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr would come following reports that he was having problems with his Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran. They are returning to Los Angeles on October 23 to continue training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach indicating “it’s a waste of expense to bring anymore sparring partners” which would also rule out undefeated Vanes Martrirosyan flying in.
Koncz indicated that present plans call for Pacquiao to train one day in Manila before leaving for Los Angeles.
