After skipping two days because of illness, Pacquiao returns to form

Manny Pacquiao AP 

After hitting a snag, Manny Pacquiao’s training for his comeback fight against Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 is again in full swing.

Pacquiao, who skipped gym work on Friday and Saturday owing to a bout with colds, resumed sparring last night and was clearly back in his element.

Despite a slight runny rose, Pacquiao engaged unbeaten American Jose Ramirez in a spirited scrimmage for six rounds then spent two more against Filipino lightweight Leonardo Doronio at the Elorde Gym near Mall of Asia in Pasay.

“Sparring went well,” Aquiles Zonio, Pacquiao’s spokesperson, told the Inquirer. “Because Ramirez is also fast, there were beautiful exchanges.”

Chief trainer Freddie Roach, who earlier considered a 10-round sparring session for Pacquiao, decided to stick to just eight rounds because there are still nearly four weeks to go before the lawmaker targets Vargas’ WBO welterweight title at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, Roach, conditioning coach Justin Fortune and assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri and Roger Fernandez will fly to Los Angeles on Oct. 22 to wrap up preparations at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.