Pacquiao looking stronger than ever

DESPITE having problems in his first sparring sessions with undefeated light middleweight Shawn Porter, Manny Pacquiao is fast becoming stronger than he was when he fought former junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton five months ago.

Conditioning coach Alex Ariza during a chance interview said Pacquiao looks even stronger than he did for the Hatton fight where the Filipino knocked the Brit out of his senses in Round 2.

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“He is definitely stronger and faster than he is before and if we could hold it here until we get to America and we can hold that weight we will be right on track,” said Ariza who helped Pacquiao improve in terms of his power and explosiveness.

Meanwhile, American trainer Freddie Roach said the number of rounds in sparring should move up by Saturday.

He said they plan to do another six rounds on Thursday while they await a new sparring partner.

Pacquiao plans to defeat Cotto in an attempt to win a seventh title in seven different weight classes. Their title showdown will take place at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Roach said Pacquiao will close his training in Baguio on October 24 and in the evening of the same day, a Saturday, they will travel to Los Angeles, rest the following day and resume training at the Wild Card Gym on Monday.

They will spend two more weeks in LA as they wrap up the sparring and begin to taper off, and should be in Las Vegas on the Monday of fight week.

Former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, who figured in two brutal bouts with the late Diego Corrales in 2005 (the first one, won by Corrales, being chosen Fight of the Year), is scheduled to arrive Thursday.

After four days of sparring, Pacquiao has logged a total of 18 rounds, the most difficult of which are those with Porter, a junior-middleweight who looks like he’s out to knock Pacquiao out.

The 21-year-old Porter, with more than 200 fights as an amateur and unbeaten in 10 fights as a pro, has forced Pacquiao to keep his hands up in training, having hurt the reigning pound-for-pound champion a couple of times since last week.

Still, the 2007 National Golden Gloves champion is in awe, adding Pacquiao, with both his power and speed, should have the upper hand when he faces Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight crown on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.

“I think Manny’s speed, quickness and power and all that would take care of the whole match for him. He’s quick. He’s very quick,” said Porter, who also excelled as a college football player. (Roderick Osis)

Source: Sun Star