MANILA, Philippines—His timing expectedly still needed some fine-tuning, but pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao could already find his spots and sneak in those bombs during his first sparring session with Glen Tapia in Baguio City on Thursday.
Pacquiao uncorked a left straight that landed squarely on the jaw of Tapia midway in the second round, jarring the promising light middleweight.
On his first day of sparring at his training camp in Baguio City, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao went four rounds with undefeated 20-year-old light middleweight Tapia, a strong puncher who has a record of 7-0 with 5 knockouts.
Trainer Freddie Roach shut down the gym and cleared it of onlookers, including members of the media and even some Team Pacquiao members.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said “it was a good four rounds of sparring” but had no explanation as to why it was previously mentioned that Pacquiao would spar with the bigger and far more experienced Michael “Murder Man” Medina who has a record of 24-2-2 with 19 knockouts but instead stepped into the ring with Tapia who is known for his big right hand which is the main asset of Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao once again played basketball on Wednesday night and skipped his morning run around Burnham Park.
Koncz said Pacquiao didn’t jog precisely because he played basketball which is one way he likes to get in shape physically.
Koncz allayed fears of some fans that too much basketball could open up the danger of aggravating his foot injury saying there was no need to worry and that everything was on schedule.
Freddie Roach earlier said that Pacquiao would be allowed to play basketball only up to one month before the Margarito fight.
Pacquiao’s next sparring session is set for Saturday.
He is expected to pick up the tempo next week, which will also see the arrival of WBC silver middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to join Pacquiao’s training camp.
Source: sports.inquirer.net
