By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao and Philippine senator and “Fighter of the Decade” is back to his old devastating punching machine.

ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach revealed “his left shoulder was hurting tremendously while Buboy Fernandez also complained that his elbow was hurting because of Manny’s punching power” after seven rounds on the punch-mitts.

Roach complemented Manny on his footwork during six rounds of sparring with Rey Beltran on Friday and said “Manny is exactly where we wanted him to be.

Roach further said Pacquiao has shown “amazing energy after nine to ten  hours of work in the Senate and then the gym and added, that he’s “really pleased, he was perfect.”

Pacquiao’s training team indicated “they can feel the old Manny is back and if Jessie Vargas comes forward” because he is a fighter, the 5’10 champion "will be in deep trouble.”

IN OTHER NEWS: TACOMA, Wash. – Ghana’s Thomas Awimbono will make his U.S. boxing debut on Nov. 19 when he faces fellow super middleweight Mike Gavronski in the main event of Battle at the Boat 108 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.

It’s been nearly seven years since the 25-year-old Awimbono (25-4-1, 21 KOs) last tasted defeat. After losing by decision to undefeated Thomas Oosthuizen, who is currently ranked among the world’s top 10 light heavyweights, in a bout for the WBA Pan African super middleweight crown, Awimbono has been on a tear, winning 18 consecutive fights with 17 of those victories coming via knockout.

Awimbono’s resume also features a decision loss to Martin Murray, another top 10-ranked boxer who lost to Gennady Golovkin in a contest for Golovkin’s WBA Super World middleweight championship just last year.

In 2002, Thomas Awimbono participated in the Commonwealth Games representing his home country of Ghana. Awimbono lost in the quarterfinals to Paul Smith by a very controversial 17-21 score that put the judges’ agenda in question.

Awimbono will face no slouch when he competes for the first time in the United States as Gavronski brings a stellar 21-2-1 record with 14 knockouts into the 10-round affair.