BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – Manny Pacquiao worked out so long, so hard, so well yesterday and was amply rewarded with a big smile and a thumbs-up sign from his chief trainer, Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao pummeled Shawn Porter for three rounds and took in Urbano Antillon for two rounds as he capped his first week of sparring with six weeks left before the Miguel Cotto fight.
Pacquiao had a hard time coping with the bigger and heavier Porter, a 21-year-old junior middleweight, when they sparred two rounds last Thursday. It was so much different this time.
The hard-hitting Filipino finally showed quickness with his hands and his feet and often times caught Porter defenseless. In the second round, he hit the native of Ohio with a solid left straight to the face.
Porter froze for a second and Pacquiao could have finished him off with another good one. Earlier, the American caught Pacquiao with his best punch for the day, also a left, that sent the champ reeling to the ropes.
Overall, however, it was a far much better sparring session than Thursday’s, and as Pacquiao headed back to his corner, Roach gave him the thumbs-up sign.
“He was working on his timing and he was more focused today – less distractions, no media day, no showing off. He played a little bit in the end but I’m very happy. He just gets better as time moves on,” said Roach.
After Thursday’s sparring, Roach said Pacquiao is just 40 percent of his full potential, but said the other day that by the time they leave for Los Angeles on Oct. 24 he should be 70 to 80 percent ready for Cotto.
Porter was simply overwhelmed in the ring that his father and trainer, Ken Porter, couldn’t hide his frustration, considering that just two days ago it was the 2007 National Golden Gloves champion who was all over Pacquiao.
“What are you doing,” the elder Porter was shouting during the sparring. “You’re not doing what I want you to do.”
Pacquiao was already banging away against Urbano and the Porters were still in a discussion just off the ring.
Roach said he was glad that Pacquiao moved well against Porter, the way he would want to see him move against Cotto on Nov. 14.
“Our job is to hit him and move and get out of the way. No exchanges. The most should be a three-punch combination and then get out.
Two to three-punch combinations is what we’re working on. You wait for the fourth shot and he’s gonna hit you back,” said Roach.
During short breaks as he shadow boxed on the ring, Pacquiao spoke to scribes who were watching him closely.
“Yan ang susi (That’s the key),” he said, demonstrating some blinding combinations and then spinning out to his left or to his right. “Yan ang susi. Hit and run. Hit and run.”
After the sparring, Pacquiao let in the crowd that had gathered behind the doors of the Shape Up Gym. And before he knew it, he was surrounded by fans both young and old.
The fans were treated to a display of Pacquiao’s stamina as he did some very special excercises which were prepared by his conditioning coach, Alex Ariza.
Ariza said what they did was different from plyometrics, a form of exercise that helps a fighter build his muscles and body without giving up on speed. – Abac Cordero
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Pacman is slowly forming back into a pound for pound fighting machine..as his spar mates having trouble catching him.. Pacman speed & power is slowly getting back on time..
jerome pagalan
http://sportspayperview.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Roach: We're at 40 percent By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – For the second day, Shawn Porter pushed Manny Pacquiao around the ring and left a clear impression that the Filipino icon is far from tip-top shape heading toward his Nov. 14 bout with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.
Even Freddie Roach, the chief trainer, wasn’t satisfied with the way his boxer handled the 21-year-old junior middleweight from Ohio during their sparring session yesterday at the Shape Up Gym packed with mediamen and Pacquiao fans as well.
“I’m not completely satisfied because he leaned on the ropes too much. He played a little bit for you guys,” Roach told a bunch of scribes who took a 250-km ride from Manila to get a glimpse of Pacquiao’s training camp, now on its second week.
“But it happens,” said Roach of Pacquiao’s tendency of putting up a show for his fans. “I have to close the gym down. But that’s part of his character. That’s part of Manny Pacquiao. He got hit a little too much. His timing is not there yet.”
Roach was asked where Pacquiao, considered as the best boxer in the planet today, is right now.
“Forty percent – yeah,” said Roach who watched from the corner as Porter, younger, bigger and heavier, caught Pacquiao with good right leads, a couple of straights to the face, and left jabs very similar to the ones Cotto has in his arsenal.
Pacquiao tried to make it appear he was taking it in stride, and a few times landed good shots of his own, including a three-punch combination at the end of his two rounds of sparring with the 21-year-old Porter, undefeated in 10 fights as a pro.
Porter, who gave Pacquiao three tough rounds the other day, was a 2007 National Golden Gloves champion. He was an alternate on the US Olympic team to Beijing last year. All these credentials speak well of him so far in this training camp.
“His (Pacquiao’s) performance today isn’t the way he’s gonna beat Cotto. But that’s part of the process, That’s part of training camp and that’s why we’re here. That’s something we’re working on – to get him ready for the fight,” Roach said.
Pacquiao did two more rounds with Mexican Urbano Antillon, and did a little better than when he had Porter in front of him. After the sparring, Pacquiao worked the speedball, the ropes, hit the mitts with Roach and shadow boxed for six rounds.
Told that he was giving Pacquiao a hard time, Porter simply said, “Well, I’m just trying to.”
Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser said it certainly helps having someone like Porter around because it serves as a “wake-up call” for Pacquiao, who should always “keep his up because this kid (Porter) can punch.”
Roach said it’s all part of the process, and Pacquiao should be in much better shape as the camp goes on. They intend to stay up here in Baguio for five weeks, shift to Los Angeles starting on Oct. 24, and head to Las Vegas a week before the fight.
“When he gets sharp and get’s his timing he’ll do a lot better and that’s how he’ll do in the fight. We have a schedule and we’re getting sparring partners that fight very much like his opponent. Still, I’m happy with where we’re at right now,” said Roach.
Before coming over a more than a week ago, Roach felt they would need 12 rounds to beat Cotto, but a couple of days ago he said they’re going to knock him out, more or less in way they stopped Oscar dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
“I thought we’re gonna win by decision but the way this camp is going I think we can knock him out in the early rounds. It’s all gonna be about Manny’s speed and power and that we’ve got plenty of,” said Roach.
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Manny Pacquiao is on right schedule. Though Roach sees PACMAN at 40% complete he is on the right track of their training. A couple weeks his timing will be ressurected.
jerome pagalan
http://sportspayperview.blogspot.com/
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