Pacquiao starts training for Matthysse

Manny Pacquiao. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Aware of the tough fight that lies ahead, Manny Pacquiao started whipping his body into shape Monday morning.

The eight-division world champion, who’s gunning for Argentine Lucas Matthysse’s World Boxing Association welterweight title on June 24 in Kuala Lumpur, jogged for two rounds around the 2.6-kilometer Cambridge Circle near his Forbes Park home before doing abdominal exercises.

“I started early because my last fight was in July last year,” Pacquiao said. “My opponent is a reigning WBA champion. I must be in top shape when I climb up the ring.”

According to Pacquiao, his focus at this stage is on physical conditioning.

“I started doing just a light workout to boost my stamina, speed and power.”

Gym training will begin in the middle of April,” said Pacquiao, adding that Matthysse and Golden Boy Promotions top honcho Oscar Dela Hoya, who will co-stage the fight with MP Promotions, would be arriving in Manila first week of April.

A press conference will be held to formally announce Pacquiao-Matthysse before both camps fly out to Malaysia to drum up global interest for the title fight. —ROY LUARCA