Pacquiao starts preparations for Mosley

Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to resume his conditioning build-up at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Quezon City, the same venue where he started training for his fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito last year.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz disclosed this Saturday night when chanced upon by Malaya during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night held at the Manila Hotel.

“Yes, Manny will continue his stamina build up, which he started in General Santos City, at the Elorde Gym,” Koncz told this writer, declining to give reason though for the change of schedule that runs counter to the wishes of chief trainer Freddie Roach.

Roach had announced earlier that he would rather prefer the reigning World Boxing Organization kingpin go straight to Baguio City to start preparing for his title-fight with Sugar Shane Mosley set May 7 in Las Vegas.

Roach, who is scheduled from Los Angeles, cited the numerous distractions the Pacman encountered in Manila during his preparations for his fight with Margarito, including attending sessions at the Lower House where he is a member.

The world’s pound-for-pound king has actually begun building up stamina in General Santos early last week by going on the road every morning and gym exercises in the afternoon under the watch of assistant trainer and boyhood friend Buboy Fernandez.

Pacquiao himself said, he also plays basketball as often as he can, which, he added is part of his conditioning regimen.

Although his heavy training will actually begin when his team reaches the country’s Summer Capital, the Filipino ring icon said he wanted to cover the basics again as reason for starting early.

“’Yun ‘yung ginagawa natin, basics sa training natin (We’re covering the basics of training),” Pacquiao told this writer before delivering his speech during the PSA Awards Night.

‘Hindi natin dapat i-underestimate ang kalaban. Dating champion din si Mosley at may experience,” he said.

Koncz agreed, saying Pacquiao only wanted to make sure that his conditioning is already at an ideal level before he begins the heavy training.

“We’re not underestimating Mosley. He’s the most experienced fighter that Manny’s ever faced,” said Koncz.

Also arriving Manila sometime this week is condition coach Alex Ariza, who for a moment, had misunderstanding with Roach and some members of Team Pacquiao that was nevertheless reportedly settled before the start of training.

Koncz said the team will proceed to the Pines City March 12 where extensive workout will start in earnest the following day.

Koncz said Pacquiao is expected in Los Angeles first week of April where training resumes at the Wild Card Gym that would last for three weeks. The final week of the schedule will be held in Las Vegas.

Also arriving shortly, Koncz said, are Lightweight David Rodela and unbeaten welterweight Shawn Porter who will be Pacquiao’s sparring partners while in Baguio. Both Rodela (15-3-3, six knockouts) of Oxnard, Calif., and, the hard-hitting Porter (18-0, 13 KOs) have served, at one time or another, as sparmates for Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs).

The “Fighting Congressman of Sarangani” will be gunning for his 14th straight victory – and ninth knockout win - since suffering his last defeat in 2005 when he goes up against Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Source: PhilBoxing.com