Pacman builds up power punches

BUBOY Fernandez is well over 200 pounds, but the extra weight hardly helped minimize the impact of Manny Pacquiao’s power punches when they did the mitts yesterday.

As usual, Fernandez’s palms and wrists turned red and ached owing to the speed and velocity with which the Senator Pacquiao unloaded his punches, including three solid blows to his bosom buddy’s mid-section.

Fernandez, who supervises Pacquiao’s training pending the arrival of chief trainer Freddie Roach from Los Angeles next week, told 24 Oras that he doubts whether World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas, Pacquiao’s opponent on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, can withstand their force.

Fernandez and fellow trainers Nony Neri and Haplas Fernandez even decided to make the punching bag more compact to suit Pacquiao’s new-found power.

Pacquiao, who only did a few laps of running in the morning owing to a legislative commitment, said he’s not too concerned about Vargas’ boast of beating him.

According to the eight-division world champion, Vargas’ style is not too difficult to study and counter.

Team Pacquiao intends to leave for the United States after the Senate adjourns its session, starting on Oct. 22. Roy Luarca