Pacquiao joins Roach for Baguio training

DOING the punch mitts with Manny Pacquiao yesterday, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez again felt the power of the eight-division world champion at the MP Tower in Sampaloc, Manila.

“The strength and the stamina are back so soon,” Fernandez told the Inquirer in Filipino. “He (Pacquiao) is really different now. With his new lifestyle, he’s become even thirstier (for victory). I’m sure, he’ll put up a better performance (against Timothy Bradley on June 9).”

After doing his routine exercises and sweating it out with the balls and heavy bags, Pacquiao spent eight rounds on the mitts with Fernandez and impressed onlookers at the seven-story facility he owns.

Apparently, the two-week conditioning and light workouts he did in Biñan, Laguna, and General Santos City under the supervision of Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, helped to recondition Pacquiao’s body and dust off the rust brought about by more than five months of ring inactivity.

According to Pacquiao, he’s ready for the tougher grind starting today in Baguio City, where he will join renowned trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza in his camp at the Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza.

Pacquiao will stake his WBO welterweight crown against the unbeaten American on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.