Pacquiao floors sparmate
Manny Pacquiao is nearing peak form less than three weeks before he tries to dethrone Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse as World Boxing Association welterweight king.
On Tuesday in General Santos City, the world’s only eight-division world champion staggered sparring partner Gherich Chavez with a single solid straight to the jaw.
The 39-year-old Pacquiao then paused briefly to give Chavez a respite.
“I would say he is already 85 percent ready but we don’t want him to peak too soon,” said chief trainer Buboy Fernandez, echoing the observations of strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune.
“He is right there where we want him to be right now,” said Fortune.
Pacquiao challenged himself Monday morning by climbing the steepest route in Maasim, Sarangani province.
“It’s a sign that Manny is trying to ask himself questions whether he still has it or not,” said Fortune. “That talks a lot about his warrior spirit.”
Matthysse, under the tutelage of Joel Diaz, is also in deep training to match whatever firepower Pacquiao will be bringing to the “Fight of Champions” on July 15 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 35-year-old Matthysse is planning to arrive in Malaysia 10 days before the fight.
