Pacquiao training shifts to high gear in Baguio City

No more playing around.

As the team of Manny Pacquiao arrives in Baguio Sunday, Freddie Roach expects training for the Filipinos’ coming title fight with Antonio Margarito to shift into high gear.

“It’s time to get a little more serious now," said Roach shortly before taking the six-hour trip that will bring him and the rest of the Pacquiao entourage to the country’s Summer Capital.

“We need to start working within ourselves a little bit more."

Pacquiao, Roach, along with conditioning coach Alex Ariza and sparring mates Michael Medina and Glen Tapia left Manila Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after breaking camp in Manila Saturday.

The world’s top pound-for-pound fighter’s Baguio arrival came a week short after he chose to postpone it to attend to his busy schedule in Congress as the lone representative of the province of Sarangani.

But the 31-year-old Filipino ring sensation did keep himself in shape by doing a daily, two-hour afternoon workout at the Elorde gym in Roosevelt, Quezon City. 

Although still around 60 percent from his fighting form, Roach said the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter remains in good condition even if his ward has not fought since scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Joshua Clottey last March.

“He is still fast and beat the hell out of me today in the mitts," said Roach of their last workout in Manila two days ago.

The four-time Trainer of the Year acceded to Pacquiao’s decision to postpone training camp in Baguio for a week, but would not in any way allow the group to stay another day in Manila.

His reason – “It’s the traffic."

Roach said it usually takes them more than an hour traveling from the New World Hotel in Makati where they stay, all the way to the Elorde gym in Quezon City.

The 50-year old trainer was even forced to take the MRT along with Ariza, Medina and Tapia when they were caught in a monstrous traffic jam at EDSA while on their way home to training.

So setting up camp in Baguio is definitely a welcome news for Roach.

Once in the mountain hideaway, Roach said it’s all business for the Pacman.

Training at the Cooyesan Hotel will be closed door, according to Roach, like the one they had when Pacquiao held camp at the same site during his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title fight with Miguel Cotto last year.

By Tuesday, the first of a projected 140 rounds of sparring begins, Roach added, with Medina the first to test the mettle of the Filipino ring idol.

The Pacquiao entourage will be staying in Baguio for at least three weeks, before planing to Los Angeles, California, tentatively on Oct. 20, for the final phase of the training at the famed Wild Card gym.

Pacquiao and Margarito is set to clash on Nov. 13 (Nov. 14 in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) light-middleweight title. - 

 

credits: RCJ, GMANews.TV