Pacquiao under the weather - Ariza -- The Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - He’s no Superman.

Manny Pacquiao skipped his workout altogether yesterday because the pound-for-pound champion was “not feeling well.”

His strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, spoke to The STAR by phone last night and gave the reason why Pacquiao did not report to the gym.

“He was not feeling well. He’s a little bit under the weather,” said Ariza.

It should be the first time since Ariza took over Pacquiao’s conditioning that he saw the 31-year-old Filipino out of the gym the whole day while preparing for a fight.

“It happens. But that’s just it. He was not feeling well,” said the native of Colombia who came into the picture for the David Diaz fight in 2008.

Before he moved to Baguio, Pacquiao was taken to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan due to a sharp pain in the insole of his left foot.

Doctors said it was nothing serious and was just a case of some pull during workout. It was reported that it was due to the leather shoes he’d been wearing everyday since he was elected to Congress.

“He’s not used to that kind of footwear so his heels somewhat swelled,” Roach told a veteran scribe the other day.

Pacquiao sparred five rounds against Glen Tapia the other day, and must have pushed himself too hard, if there’s such a thing with the Filipino energizer.

Yesterday was supposed to be a non-sparring day but even those who’ve been following Pacquiao’s moves in Baguio said he did not go out for his morning run.

Ariza said it remains uncertain if Pacquiao would be back in training today. He spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

“It depends on how he’ll be feeling tomorrow,” said Ariza.

Pacquiao entered his second week of training in Baguio City last Monday with 14 rounds of mitts with his chief trainer Freddie Roach and the heavy sparring with Tapia.

Last week, he did eight rounds of sparring, including four with Michael Medina last Saturday. Shortly after his workout on that day, he drove to Manila for an overnight stay. He was back in Baguio Sunday evening.

Pacquiao, an insider said, also has plans of being in Manila this coming Saturday to be with his family.

Source: philstar.com

Sinus Afflicts Pacquiao, Roach Cancels Training -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — The student wanted to show up for school on Wednesday, but the teacher politely told him that there were no classes.

Upon learning that his ward Manny Pacquiao was having sinus problem, Freddie Roach sent word that he will not be working with the Filipino pound-for-pound king at the Shape Up Gym in Baguio City and instead told his prized pupil to take the day off, rest and just return the following day.

The day did not start right after Pacquiao skipped his morning roadwork that was supposed to take place in the rugged terrain of Sta. Lucia Village, an area used by Team Pacquiao during non-sparring days.

Roach expects Pacquiao to run at Burnham Park and be present Thursday since it is a sparring day and the fighter should encounter a rough and bruising day as his preparations reach another level some five weeks before he faces Antonio Margarito on November 13 in Dallas.

Roach might send in either Glen Tapia or Michael Medina but might end up using the two. So far, Pacquiao has logged 13 rounds of sparring, still way off the projected 100 to 110 rounds by the time they taper off at the Wild Card in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Ariza stressed that British star Amir Khan is indeed arriving in Manila Thursday morning and will immediately proceed to Baguio “but definitely won’t be sparring with Pacquiao.”

“It’s still too early for Amir to begin sparring,” reasoned out Ariza when told about a member of Team Pacquiao confirming that Khan will slug it out with the pound-for-pound king, noting that Khan’s next fight will be on Dec. 11 against Marcos Maidana of Argentina.

“Amir being here is for his own conditioning and not for anything else,” added Ariza.

Also being reported to be going to Manila late this week or early next week is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who has a fight scheduled Dec. 4. Chavez is also being looked at as a sparmate for Pacquiao.

Source: mb.com.ph