Freddie Roach is leaving nothing to chance for Manny Pacquiao's title fight against Antonio Margarito, as he plans to up the ante in the Filipino southpaw’s training camp in the next two weeks leading up to the November 13 bout in Arlington, Texas.
"It would be the toughest two weeks coming up," said Roach at the end of Pacquiao’s open workout for members of the media Monday afternoon at the Shape up gym of the Cooyesan Hotel in Baguio City.
“It would be a big week for sparring. This week and next week."
Raising the level of training at this point is already a must, according to Roach, as Pacquiao has sparred for only a total of 36 rounds in four weeks against Michael Medina and Glen Tapia.
"Manny right now is 100 percent in the mitts, but only 50 percent in sparring," said the 50-year-old Roach.
"So, we'll get about 30 rounds this week and 30 next week, and then we start tapering off," said the four-time Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
By the time Pacquiao's entourage hits Los Angeles next week, more quality sparmates will be waiting for the Filipino southpaw at the Wild Card gym.
"I have more sparring there, better sparring. No, not better, but more of the style I've been looking for," said Roach, who mentioned the likes of unbeaten junior middleweight prospects Peter Quillin, known as 'Kid Chocolate’, Vanes Martirosyan, and reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
With the stormy weather and other distractions that hounded Pacquiao's training camp in Baguio City, Roach has not kept secret his desire to leave for Los Angeles earlier.
But with the way training hadsgone the past few days, the celebrated trainer is convinced that Pacquiao will eventually get in the shape he wants him to be against the bigger and stronger Margarito.
"Consistency has been the best. We have good and bad days, but more good than bad lately, so it’s getting better and better," he said.
"We need a little more focus, but I think overall, we’re doing okay." – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV
Source: GMANews.tv
