Pacquiao shows up at Rizal for training

MANILA, Philippines — Under a blazing early morning sun, Manny Pacquiao showed up for his first track work under conditioning coach Alex Ariza at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Monday, assuring everyone that all is well in his buildup for the fast-approaching Nov. 13 duel with Antonio Margarito.

“Hindi naman ako nagpapabaya. Hindi naman tayo naglalakwatsa eh,” said Pacquiao after Ariza presided over the first of a series of strength exercises that featured quick bursts of speed in short distances and legwork using pylons.

Pacquiao left his training camp in Baguio last Saturday owing to commitments in...

...Manila, including a planned meeting with President Noynoy Aquino on Monday that didn’t take place after Pacquiao showed up at Malacañang at 11:30 a.m.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal said the meeting was set at 11 a.m. and Pacquiao, the representative of Saragani, overslept after going through a strenuous training session under Ariza that lasted for almost two hours earlier.

Gacal said Pacquiao instead met Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who was briefed by Pacquiao about “provincial concerns in Saragani.”

Ariza said the coming days will be tough and hard since there would be much more of the same morning exercises.

“We’re just opening up the lungs. This is the easiest day because this is just the first day (for track work),” said Ariza, eliciting a strange look from the Filipino fighter who was right behind him.

“That’s okay,” said Pacquiao, smiling, looking and sounding confident that he will get the job done and proving to everyone else that he has everything all figured out.

Ariza said Pacquiao remains on track despite a few minor bumps, including one full day of workout missed last week owing to a sinus problem.

“The thing with these guys is that their training is so hard that they would be sparring at 60 percent because they are shot from the workouts from the beginning. And so when people come in there and expect to see a pay-per-view performance, they are out of their minds.”

Ariza said he was not alarmed that Pacquiao was unimpressive in his last sparring session last Saturday – three rounds each with Glen Tapia and Michael Medina – because “sparmates get to sleep all day, relax, rest, so they’re going in fresh.”

Pacquiao was scheduled to head back to Baguio to reunite with Freddie Roach late Monday night in time for another round of sparring at the Shape Up Gym.

Team Pacquiao leaves for the US on Oct. 23.

MANILA, Philippines — Under a blazing early morning sun, Manny Pacquiao showed up for his first track work under conditioning coach Alex Ariza at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Monday, assuring everyone that all is well in his buildup for the fast-approaching Nov. 13 duel with Antonio Margarito.

“Hindi naman ako nagpapabaya. Hindi naman tayo naglalakwatsa eh,” said Pacquiao after Ariza presided over the first of a series of strength exercises that featured quick bursts of speed in short distances and legwork using pylons.

Pacquiao left his training camp in Baguio last Saturday owing to commitments in...

...Manila, including a planned meeting with President Noynoy Aquino on Monday that didn’t take place after Pacquiao showed up at Malacañang at 11:30 a.m.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal said the meeting was set at 11 a.m. and Pacquiao, the representative of Saragani, overslept after going through a strenuous training session under Ariza that lasted for almost two hours earlier.

Gacal said Pacquiao instead met Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who was briefed by Pacquiao about “provincial concerns in Saragani.”

Ariza said the coming days will be tough and hard since there would be much more of the same morning exercises.

“We’re just opening up the lungs. This is the easiest day because this is just the first day (for track work),” said Ariza, eliciting a strange look from the Filipino fighter who was right behind him.

“That’s okay,” said Pacquiao, smiling, looking and sounding confident that he will get the job done and proving to everyone else that he has everything all figured out.

Ariza said Pacquiao remains on track despite a few minor bumps, including one full day of workout missed last week owing to a sinus problem.

“The thing with these guys is that their training is so hard that they would be sparring at 60 percent because they are shot from the workouts from the beginning. And so when people come in there and expect to see a pay-per-view performance, they are out of their minds.”

Ariza said he was not alarmed that Pacquiao was unimpressive in his last sparring session last Saturday – three rounds each with Glen Tapia and Michael Medina – because “sparmates get to sleep all day, relax, rest, so they’re going in fresh.”

Pacquiao was scheduled to head back to Baguio to reunite with Freddie Roach late Monday night in time for another round of sparring at the Shape Up Gym.

Team Pacquiao leaves for the US on Oct. 23.

Manny Training for Margarito

MANILA, Philippines — Freddie Roach had initially thought that Manny Pacquiao’s entry into politics would have a huge effect on his boxing career.

After only a few rounds with Pacquiao on the mitts, all his worries went flying out the window.

“The work ethic is still there. Congress hasn’t taken that away. I feel his power, his intensity and he already knows the gameplan to win this fight,” said Roach on Friday before he presided over Pacquiao’s training at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Quezon City.

Roach is helping Pacquiao get in top shape for a Nov. 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito in Dallas and this early, the amiable 50-year-old former fighter believes there is no way Pacquiao would melt away against the lumbering Margarito.

“I don’t want to kill the fight by saying we’re going to blow him away, but we’re going to blow him away. I really do,” said Roach.

Roach is so convinced of the outcome that he is willing to tell it to Margarito’s face.

“I will bet and tell it to him that he’ll quit. The only way that he won’t quit is once he gets knocked out.”

Margarito is in the thick of training in Los Angeles under Robert Garcia and is said to be in terrific form seven weeks before the scheduled 12-round battle for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight crown.

But Roach, who has been calling the shots in Pacquiao’s corner since 2001, is undaunted.

“He (Margarito) is so slow. They better improve something. But I can’t say it’s an easy fight, though. But I am not worried about this guy at all.”

Pacquiao and Roach would train for the last time in Metro Manila on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Baguio for the most crucial phase of the training.

Roach said sparring will start either Tuesday or Thursday and Pacquiao would be pitted against Michael Medina, the 5-11 from Mexico.

Still, Roach is supremely confident that Pacquiao would easily beat Margarito.

“I am not losing sleep over Margarito,” added Roach.

MANILA, Philippines — Freddie Roach had initially thought that Manny Pacquiao’s entry into politics would have a huge effect on his boxing career.

After only a few rounds with Pacquiao on the mitts, all his worries went flying out the window.

“The work ethic is still there. Congress hasn’t taken that away. I feel his power, his intensity and he already knows the gameplan to win this fight,” said Roach on Friday before he presided over Pacquiao’s training at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Quezon City.

Roach is helping Pacquiao get in top shape for a Nov. 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito in Dallas and this early, the amiable 50-year-old former fighter believes there is no way Pacquiao would melt away against the lumbering Margarito.

“I don’t want to kill the fight by saying we’re going to blow him away, but we’re going to blow him away. I really do,” said Roach.

Roach is so convinced of the outcome that he is willing to tell it to Margarito’s face.

“I will bet and tell it to him that he’ll quit. The only way that he won’t quit is once he gets knocked out.”

Margarito is in the thick of training in Los Angeles under Robert Garcia and is said to be in terrific form seven weeks before the scheduled 12-round battle for the vacant World Boxing Council super-welterweight crown.

But Roach, who has been calling the shots in Pacquiao’s corner since 2001, is undaunted.

“He (Margarito) is so slow. They better improve something. But I can’t say it’s an easy fight, though. But I am not worried about this guy at all.”

Pacquiao and Roach would train for the last time in Metro Manila on Saturday afternoon before traveling to Baguio for the most crucial phase of the training.

Roach said sparring will start either Tuesday or Thursday and Pacquiao would be pitted against Michael Medina, the 5-11 from Mexico.

Still, Roach is supremely confident that Pacquiao would easily beat Margarito.

“I am not losing sleep over Margarito,” added Roach.