BAGUIO City—Based on what an iconic observer inside the closed-door sparring session saw yesterday, a Manny Pacquiao moving up in weight will have no problem dealing with bigger guys.
The country’s first-ever two division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa told Manila Standard that Pacquiao tried to work on his defense by allowing fellow world champion Amir Khan to be on the attack in the first two of their four-round joust.
Beyond those two defense-oriented rounds, Pacquiao then went on the offensive and showed exceptional power and agility against two other taller sparmates Glen Tapia and Michael Medina, who are here to simulate the Filipino’s opponent Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
“He dominated Amir the next two rounds, then bloodied the nose of Tapia before taking it easy with his third sparring partner,” said Penalosa, who was awed with Pacquiao’s punching power despite using 16-ounce gloves.
It was the first sparring session between the two world champions since Khan arrived in Pacquiaos training camp nearly two weeks ago. Yesterday, Pacquiao completed 10 rounds of sparring.
The lanky 23-year-old Khan, set to see action in mid-December, came here specifically to start his conditioning regimen with coach Alex Ariza and trainer Freddie Roach.
“I want to be ready in case Margarito shows improvement with his speed, that’s why I insisted on sparring with Khan,” said Pacquiao.
Roach initially said there was of little use in sparring with Khan since the British kingpin is way faster and a much better fighter than Margarito, a former welterweight world champion, who will battle Pacquiao for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight crown on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Penalosa, who reigned as world junior flyweight and flyweight champion in the 1980s, disclosed that Pacquiao assured him the pound-for-pound king will be moving much better inside the ring the rest of the training camp.
He said he felt a bit sluggish because of the plyometric exercises but since he has concluded his drills last Monday, he expects to have better movement from hereon, said Penalosa.
Tomorrow, Pacquiao will have his last sparring session at Cooyeesans Shape-Up gym, before traveling back to Manila later in the evening.
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com
