While the crowded media that filled the Wild Card Boxing Club on Wednesday afternoon was nowhere to be found on Thursday, Top Rank photographer Chris Farina found a way to stick around as the Filipino star engaged in a sparring session inside of the facility.
For this camp Pacquiao has been sparring with the likes of Shawn Porter, David Rodela, Raymund Beltran, and newly-added Karim Mayfield. When I asked Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who had given his charge the best work for this particular camp and he was quick to point out that it was Porter who seemed to push him the hardest.
While Rodela and Beltran have had much experience sparring Pacquiao and Porter helped get him ready for his November 2009 date with Miguel Cotto, it is Mayfield who is a new fixture on the scene. Earlier this month the San Francisco native opened up about his time in camp, which saw the second leg kick off in early April, and during his second week he admitted that Pacquiao was getting more committed.
"Manny's definitely getting stronger. As the camp progresses he's starting to get the punch count up. I feel that I am getting stronger too so I am definitely keeping up the competition level for him," the 30-year old said.
The buzz is definitely building day by day and while some may not see this as a competitive fight it certainly is shaping up to be a huge event.
Source: Examiner.com
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