Ring superstar and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is due to begin sparring for his upcoming clash with Antonio Margarito tomorrow, when the Filipino dynamo will go around three-rounds with Britain’s own superstar Amir Khan. The Manila Times also reports that Pac-Man is currently weighing 148-pounds ahead of the November light-middleweight title fight (scheduled to take place at a catch-weight of 151-pounds), but that he will add a further two or three pounds before fight time.
Fitness coach Alex Ariza says the additional pounds will not take any of Pac-Man’s phenomenal speed away, and that there will be no way, in his opinion, that Margarito will be able to cope with Manny’s pace and movement.Pacquiao trained in Baguio City today, refusing to allow bad weather to impede his preparations for the fight that, if he wins, will see him win an amazing 8th “world” title in as many weight classes. And Pac-Man said he is feeling absolutely great right now.
“I’m 100-percent ready,” Pac-Man said. “The public has nothing to worry about since I’m feeling very good.”
Pacquiao’s reassurance to the public came after Top Rank promoter, in The Philippines until Thursday of this week, told the media there that he was somewhat concerned his superstar fighter was not looking as fast as usual in training.
“When I watched Manny on Saturday, I didn’t see the kind of speed that he would need to beat Margarito,” Arum said yesterday. “If the fight happened on Saturday, Margarito would win.”
Ariza, though, said today that while Manny’s progress was not what it could have been a while back, his charge is back up to speed now.
“We’re behind for a while but today we’re back to where we want to be,” Ariza said.
So it seems Arum and the rest of Pacquiao’s fans have no need to worry. The real story will likely be told tomorrow in sparring. Khan has worked with Pacquiao before, and the two work hard on speed and reflexes. Both men are set to fly to Freddie Roach’s famous Wild Card gym in L.A on October 23, rd, where more sparring will take place. Reports say Vanes Martirosyan may also spar with Pac-Man. Julio Cesar Chavez was originally set to travel to the Philippines to go rounds with the seven-weight champ, but this is not happening now.
Chavez Junior even suggested the reason may be because he is being looked at as a future opponent for Pac-Man!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
No comments:
Post a Comment