Secret to Pacquiao's success, world class sparring..

Could that be why Mosley slurs abit every now and then? I didn't think he got hit flush too many times in his early days. Nowdays he's getting hit abit more, but I'd imagine that's due to age. Think he had many wars in gym and that's why he's not so centered these days? Wars with 2x De La Hoya, 2x Vernon Forrest, Miguel Cotto, 2x Winky wright.. I think that list alone can get you slurrin.

Could that be why Mosley slurs abit every now and then? I didn't think he got hit flush too many times in his early days. Nowdays he's getting hit abit more, but I'd imagine that's due to age. Think he had many wars in gym and that's why he's not so centered these days?

90% of the damage a fighter takes is in the gym. I personally do not believe that hard sparring is beneficial in any way. You never need to be hit with big punches. Fast paced sparring is good, intense sparring is good, but fighters should never be hitting each other full power. You are honing your instincts, and reflexes. Getting hit harder does not help with that at all. If you see an opening, you should touch it, you shouldn't try and drop your sparring partner. Unfortunately, many gyms encourage that kind of sparring. Their fighters end up punchy, and slurring at early ages. Tommy Hearns and Terry Norris are perfect examples. I have a feeling Wilfred Benitez engaged in frequent gym wars too, but I have no sources for that. With 16oz gloves, headgear all it needs is some regulation... I agree that gym wars are detrimental to fighter but also necessary in preparation for the actual intensity of a real fight... If you have fighters like Urbano Antillon, Israel Vasquez, Holloway, Kahn, etc., you don't want to patty cake with them if they are at your disposal. I am not saying having wars every time out.. But having a good hard session to see if muscle memory, Instincts, reflexes, etc. are starting to adhere to what the game plan dictates. You can have intense sparring but holding back on all your punches ain't the same thing and can become a habit that may surface in the real thing. So letting loose ever so often in sparring can help... I don't think Pac goes hard everytime out with his partners, but when the adjustments are made, I feel a hard session can ingrain certain new instincts you can't learn anywhere else, specially if you are training with someone world class.

I agree with you Alex. Though it is important to train hard, and have the sparring partner be aggressive, and hit hard because otherwise you can't be prepared for a real fight.. BUT as you said if you have too many wars in sparring it can cause problems down the road. I've seen it, so I totally understand your point. It's possible that the ppl that are totally disagreeing with you are ones that aren't boxers themselves like you are. Or haven't seen people spar. 90% of the damage a fighter takes is in the gym. I personally do not believe that hard sparring is beneficial in any way. You never need to be hit with big punches. Fast paced sparring is good, intense sparring is good, but fighters should never be hitting each other full power. You are honing your instincts, and reflexes. Getting hit harder does not help with that at all. If you see an opening, you should touch it, you shouldn't try and drop your sparring partner. Unfortunately, many gyms encourage that kind of sparring. Their fighters end up punchy, and slurring at early ages. Tommy Hearns and Terry Norris are perfect examples. I have a feeling Wilfred Benitez engaged in frequent gym wars too, but I have no sources for that.

Definitely, looking forward to following Rashad as he has what it takes to accomplish big things. Hopefully Rashad will be back in the ring soon. It took a long time for him to recover from his eye injury. I just talked to him a few days ago, and he just got back into the gym. He said he's feeling great. :boxing:

Truth be told, Roach always tries to find world-class sparring mates for his top guys. Back in 2007 he brought in Shane Mosley and Ivan Calderon for Oscar. I think Ivan Calderon was just in the gym...

i dont understand how people can say gym wars constantly are good for you. gym wars kills fighters, and makes them either punch drunk or brain dead. how many greats can we name who havnt been beating up in the ring but are punch drunk?-many...and thats because of constant gym wars, although they are good every now and then, constantly it is very bad for a fighter. I agree with you Alex. Though it is important to train hard, and have the sparring partner be aggressive, and hit hard because otherwise you can't be prepared for a real fight.. BUT as you said if you have too many wars in sparring it can cause problems down the road. I've seen it, so I totally understand your point. It's possible that the ppl that are totally disagreeing with you are ones that aren't boxers themselves like you are. Or haven't seen people spar.

Freddie should try to get Katsidis as a sparring partner for Manny.

To add to the world class sparring, it's exactly like what Manny said. "If you train hard, the fight is easy". Could never be said better than that. If you study hard for a test, it's easy. It just makes sense and he trains like an animal. The results show.

Yes you're absolutely right. Having the right sparring partners makes all the difference. I'm glad you mentioned Rashad Holloway because he is an excellent boxer. He's definitely someone to look out for. Definitely, looking forward to following Rashad as he has what it takes to accomplish big things.

I have to give it up to roach for picking the best sparring partners for Manny...If you play with the best your bound to only get better...If I played basketball with M.J. I would be a far better player than If I played with Mark Madsen. To date Pacquiao has sparred with the likes of Amir Kahn, Victor Ortiz, Israel Vasquez, Rasheed Holloway, etc. Now he gets ready for Ricky Hatton guess who Roach dug up as a sparring partner for Manny: Undefeated Urbano Antillon.. I think he would be perfect in preparation for Ricky... In the wild card gym sparring sessions are for keeps. They go all out... I basically look at a fighters sparring in preparation to see how prepared they will be... Pacquiao will be ready for this. Yes you're absolutely right. Having the right sparring partners makes all the difference. I'm glad you mentioned Rashad Holloway because he is an excellent boxer. He's definitely someone to look out for.

I agree I agree. Most of the training is sparring. DLH had problems with Pac because nobody he brang in could fight like Pac. Hatton will have the same problem. Roach said it took Pac two weeks to adjust to the left jab hook that DLH had. That is why good sparring is so important.

Just look at Oscar kicking out Victor Ortiz and Edwin Valeron from his training camp for Manny. He sent them home because they were whooping his ass, but the thing is if he would of figured out either of those two he would of had a slightly better chance of giving Manny a tough fight. Specially Victor Ortiz...I don't think Valero would've helped much cuz the only thing he can replicate is the southpaw stance and power. Ortiz is quick and fights a lot like Pac having given Pac problems in sparring as well. Hatton should seek his services. Oscar stuck with some mediocre black dude who was told by b-hop to "do like pacquiao do".

i dont understand how people can say gym wars constantly are good for you. gym wars kills fighters, and makes them either punch drunk or brain dead. how many greats can we name who havnt been beating up in the ring but are punch drunk?-many...and thats because of constant gym wars, although they are good every now and then, constantly it is very bad for a fighter. It's good for Pac but it's not good for his sparring Partners. But in the end it help also the Sparring Partners. They gain experience against the Best. Vasquez is top P4P now, Pac just toys with him in sparring. Ortiz & Khan hangs with Pac, these guys are future champions. Guerrero, Valero, Linares all became a title holder they are all of Pac's former Sparring Partners. I think Pac has the most impressive resume of spariing Partners all his Career.

i dont understand how people can say gym wars constantly are good for you. gym wars kills fighters, and makes them either punch drunk or brain dead. how many greats can we name who havnt been beating up in the ring but are punch drunk?-many...and thats because of constant gym wars, although they are good every now and then, constantly it is very bad for a fighter. Roach was offering $$$ to anyone who could knock Pacquiao out in sparring... Nobody did. I guess each trainer has his own philosophy of how a sparring session should be... I think intensity should be mixed in an 8 week of preparation. I know there are light sparring days but in preparation for a big fight, nothing hones your senses more than a good sparring partner... Pacquiao moving up in weight couldn't have had it any other way but experience the awe of the higher weights in the gym rather than the shock of it in the ring...

i dont understand how people can say gym wars constantly are good for you. gym wars kills fighters, and makes them either punch drunk or brain dead. how many greats can we name who havnt been beating up in the ring but are punch drunk?-many...and thats because of constant gym wars, although they are good every now and then, constantly it is very bad for a fighter.

i disagree, sparring good fighters is always a plus, but i think pac is incredibly athletic. you just dont see that type of athleticism every day You cannot get better if you don't have anybody pushing you the extra mile... Honing your reflexes, matching your speed, defending your best shot or getting past your own defenses etc... That is when you get to the next level. Your athleticism will do you no good without anyone there to bring out the best in you... If Pacquiao decided not to be a boxer he'd still be athletic but get beat by whomever. Pacquiao is athletic and likes basketball but isn't gonna cut it even in the Philippine league..

so who is pacs sparring partner for teh hatton fight? Urbano Antillon -won 25 (KO 18) + lost 0 (KO 0)... Knocked Pacquiao's brother, Bobby, out in the first round with a wicked body shot. I think this dude can beat Hatton himself.

so who is pacs sparring partner for teh hatton fight?

Truth be told, Roach always tries to find world-class sparring mates for his top guys. Back in 2007 he brought in Shane Mosley and Ivan Calderon for Oscar.