Manny Pacquiao during training at Elorde Gym in Pasay City. He is preparing for a title defense against Jeff Horn on July 2 in Australia. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Manny Pacquiao’s training session for Friday was called off as the boxer skipped his afternoon routine to cool down after an intense workout on Thursday.
Conditioning coach Justin Fortune said Pacquiao, who is preparing for his July 2 fight against Jeff Horn in Australia, wanted to rest after doing more than 30 rounds of drills the previous day.
“Yesterday he did like 32, 31 rounds so today he’s a little tired and we have to spar again tomorrow,” Fortune told INQUIRER.net Friday at Elorde Gym in the Mall of Asia Complex.
READ: Roach unbothered by Pacquiao’s sluggish starts in sparring
Members of Team Pacquiao including head trainer Freddie Roach were present at the gym.
Pacquiao (59-6-2) is set to defend his WBO World welterweight championship against the undefeated Horn (16-0-1) in what would be the Filipino icon’s first defense of the belt since his victory against then champion Jessie Vargas in November.
Boxing’s only eight-division World champion has been ramping up the ante in his training sessions with the fight just a month away.
READ: Roach says it’s on Pacquiao when Horn goes down
“Yesterday he did a lot of rounds, nine rounds of sparring, and around 32 altogether,” said Fortune.
Fortune, though, downplayed any concerns, saying Pacquiao just needs to cool off in preparation for his training session on Saturday. He is expected to move his training to General Santos before wrapping it up in Australia.
“He just needs to fall back a little bit, but he’s all good.”