By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao says he is “peaking at the right time” in preparation for his rematch with reigning WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on March 15.
In his widely-read column on Philiboxing.com, Pacquiao said he was “doing very well” in training camp as he prepared for what he termed the “toughest fight in his 13 year career.”
He said celebrated trainer Freddie Roach, assistants Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri and conditioning coach Eric Brown have seen his power, speed and stamina and he had “a little way to go to be in perfect condition.”
Pacquiao sparred twelve rounds and later said “I think I am peaking at the right time. I am training very hard for this match and I promise to give all boxing fans a very good fight because all of you are my inspiration.”
Pacquiao went five rounds with Raymond Beltran, four with Juan Garcia and three with David Rodela. Both Beltran and Rodela were Pacquiao’s sparring partners when he trained at Rex “Wakee” Salud’s Gym in Cebu City for the rematch with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera.
He said his team were closely watching his weight and his condition to make sure that he would be one hundred percent at fight time. Roach earlier told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Pacquiao had no weight problems and that some three weeks before the fight he was a mere six pounds over the 130 pound limit.
Pacquiao said he plans to spar a total of 130 to 140 rounds and would reduce the number of rounds he spars once he gets to Las Vegas next Sunday. He said it would he hard if he over trains and he was always watching to make sure he wont peak too early.
Top Rano promoter Bob Arum who recently watched Pacquiao train at the Wild Card Gym said when he trains hard and us focused nobody in the world can beat him while Roach said Pacquiao was “fantastic in training every day.”
