By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Manny Pacquiao, pound-for-pound king and “Fighter of the Decade” showed he was fast getting into top shape for his showdown with Antonio Margarito at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas on November 13 with another full day of training in Baguio City.
Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told BoxingScene.com/Inquirer that Pacquiao “ran up the mountains and later in the afternoon went 14 rounds on the punch mitts with only one water break.”
Featherweight Bernabe Concepcion and former light flyweight champion Rodel Mayol who are scheduled to figure in a Top Rank card one week before the Pacquiao-Margarito bout as well as former flyweight title challenger Richie Mepranum who will see action on the Pacquiao-Margarito card are all training alongside Pacquiao who handles their careers under his MP Promotions and wants them to realize how hard they need to train to achieve success in a demanding sport.
However only Concepcion and Manny’s brother Bobby Pacquiao, a former international champion ran with him as Ariza said Mayol and Mepranum took a rest day since they too have been “working hard and get motivated by Manny.”
Pacquiao showed amazing speed and devastating punching power as he ripped into the mitts and in the process had trainer Freddie Roach feel the pain.
Ariza said there was no need for any real concern regarding the ache in Pacquiao’s right foot emphasizing that “the good news is its not getting worse.” Pacquiao continues to play basketball in the evenings after his workout in the gym which has been the cause of some concern.
Pacquiao himself said that prior to driving up to Baguio City last Sunday he had gone to hospital and checked with his doctor because he felt some pain in his foot which conditioning expert Alex Ariza said may have been caused by playing too much basketball. Pacquiao has promised to stop one month before the Margarito fight.
In his regular column Pacquiao said “I want to guarantee my fans that my body is fine and that the mitts sessions with coach Roach were good and we are eager to spar with the sparring partners” brought in by trainer Roach.
Ariza said Pacquiao sparred four rounds with undefeated welterweight Glen Tapia (7-0, 5 KO’s) on Thursday and “looked great” and will take on the taller, far more experienced Michael “Murder Man” Medina (24-2-2, 19 KO’s) a talented six footer who is expected to approximate the style of Margarito on Saturday.
Ariza said “there is a tendency for sparring partners to get overwhelmed when they get into the ring with Manny” but said Medina may well be different although Medina told us Pacquiao’s speed was incredible while watching him pm the punch mitts.
While deep in training Pacquiao had to make another sacrifice by skipping the birthday celebration of his daughter Princess on Friday, leaving his wife Jinkee to handle the party at the ballroom of the Ayala Alabang Country Club.
Longtime friend and Filipino trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez who celebrated his birthday on Thursday told ABS-CBN that his wish was for Pacquiao to win his eighth world title in eight different weight divisions against Margarito.
