Manny Paquiao starts training for his fight with de la Hoya!

Friday, September 19, 2008

FACING a much taller, a lot bigger, and the best fighter to date in his next ring assignment, Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao finally hit the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon and started training for his much-awaited December 6 encounter with Oscar de la Hoya at the fabulous MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Philboxing.com reported that Pacquiao did some light workout, doing the mitts with famed American trainer Freddie Roach and hitting the speed bag. He also did some shadow boxing and was talking to everyone while he did his routine, a typical Pacquiao manner whenever he is inside the gym for practice.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao was initially scheduled to start training a day before, but this was cancelled because he had to meet first with promoter Bob Arum and that the boxer was not feeling well Tuesday.

Also supervising Pacquiao's training regimen aside from Roach are Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Roger Fernandez, and Eric Brown.

Roach reportedly hired big sparring partners--two light middleweights and one welterweight--to prepare Pacquiao for De La Hoya, who started his own training for the fight a month ago.

Hired as sparring partners were 154-pounder Yuri Foreman and Arron Robinson and 147-pounder Rashad Holloway of Raleigh, North Carolina. Roach said all of them have "powerful left hooks."

Pacquiao, the punching machine from General Santos City, will be the heavy underdog in the 12-round battle at 147 pounds against De La Hoya, called the "Golden Boy" and boxing's hottest commodity.

De La Hoya, an Olympic gold medallist, holds an awesome advantage in size and he will be entering the ring looking down on his opponent ready to throw his most dangerous weapon--the left hook--which victimized many tough opponents in the past, notable of whom were Fernando Vargas and Ike Quartey.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao has appealed to his fans, especially those contracted with cough and colds, not to pay him a visit during his training.

Pacquiao said he would like to be in great shape the moment he climbs the ring against De La Hoya and does not want to get sick along the way.

Last Tuesday, Pacquiao failed to show up at the Wild Card Gym after suffering from minor colds.

By Charles Raymond A. Maxey


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