By Ronnie Nathanielsz

MANILA, Philippines—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao begins his sparring sessions against Michael Medina on Thursday at the Coyesan Hotel gym in Baguio City.

The 24-year-old Mexican super welterweight (22-2-2 with19 KOs), is expected to provide Pacquiao a stiff test against a 6-foot fighter with a longer reach like Antonio Margarito, whom the Filipino fights for the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown on Nov. 13 in Arlington, Texas.

Fact is Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza considers Medina “not a sparring partner but a contender” for a world title.

Originally slated Tuesday, trainer Freddie Roach pushed back the sparring session after Pacquiao played basketball late into the night Monday. Roach also did not want to aggravate the sprain Pacquiao sustained on his right foot after jogging in the morning.

Last Friday, Pacquiao also complained that his left foot was hurting.

Pacquiao seems to be back in form on Wednesday as he trained at Burnham Park, interspersing his runs with sprints while a huge crowd watched in awe.

However, Roach has made it clear that when Manny spars he will shut down the gym because he doesn’t want to telegraph their game-plan.

It was the intense sparring with Medina that helped Julio Cesar Chavez Jr beat Irishman John Duddy to win the WBC silver middleweight title last June 26 after Medina himself lost a controversial split decision to Duddy in a 10-round bout on March 15.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz disclosed that Pacquiao has decided to leave for Los Angeles and Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym on Oct. 24, earlier than originally planned.

Koncz told BoxingScene.com/Philippine Daily Inquirer that Pacquiao would drive down to Manila from his training camp in Baguio City on Oct. 22 after a final day of training in the summer capital. The seven-time, seven division champion will have one last day of sparring at the Johnny Elorde Gym in Quezon City before flying to LA the following evening aboard a Philippine Airlines flight.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is scheduled to arrive from Las Vegas on Oct. 18 while WBC silver middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. who will also spar with Pacquiao is slated to plane in on Oct. 8.

Meantime, in an exclusive interview with BoxingScene/Inquirer, Margarito’s chief trainer Robert Garcia disclosed that Margarito started sparring on Monday against three lefties.

Garcia said “they bring speed, they bring power and have a lot of good movements, good head movements. They are doing a great job.”

Garcia conceded though that “it is hard to say we have someone who fights just like Pacquiao because he has his own style but we have guys who are fast, throw a lot of punches and have good footwork. It’s impossible to find somebody that fights just like Manny but we have good sparring partners.”

Garcia said he admired Margarito’s “great attitude. He trains very hard.. He is very confident, very sure of his training and he’s running like never before. He’s chopping a lot of wood after running and just giving it that extra push to come out and do a good job.”