BAGUIO CITY—If not for a dazzling final-day workout by Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, this second tour in this breezy city would have been a disappointing training camp for famed trainer Freddie Roach.
After Pacquiao dominated his 10-round sparring session opposite sparmates Michael Medina, Glen Tapia and fellow world champion Amir Khan Thursday afternoon, Roach said he now sees the Filipino icon to be in a state, where the guru wants him to be at the conclusion of their storm-hit Northern Philippine camp.
“Today, his focus was very evident as well as his speed. We’re a work in progress and we still have two weeks of hard training,” said Roach. “We’re not ready yet, but we still have two weeks to get there and a lot of fine-tuning to do.”
Roach admitted they had a much better training camp here last year, when they prepared for Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their eventual takeover of the welterweight division.
Despite the admission, Roach felt relieved they still have enough time to make up for whatever lapses they encountered as they are set to return to their old, reliable sweatshop that is the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
“There won’t be distractions there, because we don’t have to go to Manila and go to Congress and so fort. These distractions were an issue for me, but he turned it around today, so I expect him to get better and better from hereon until we leave out,” said Roach.
The pound-for-pound king, meanwhile, has a different perspective when asked about supposed training diversions that has often marked his celebrated boxing career.
“That’s part of life. I consider those non-believers as my motivation to succeed further. I know I always give my best in training. The rest, I leave everything to God,” Pacquiao told the Manila Standard after his workout.
The 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) said the sluggishness he had before was part of his meticulous adjustment to the grueling Plyometric regimen implemented by conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
Late afternoon yesterday, Pacquiao and his team left for the metropolis, where Roach still plans to conduct two more hard training days that include 12-rounds of sparring Saturday at the Elorde Gym in Quezon City.
The multi-titled Pacquiao is eyeing to conquer his eighth division in his first fight at the tough super welterweight class against Mexican Antonio Margarito of Mexico on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
The 12-round battle for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight crown will be at a catch weight of 151 lbs.
Source: manilastandardtoday.com
