Manny looks good despite long layoff

MANILA, Philippines—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao looked good in only his second day of training despite the six-month layoff following his March 13 WBO welterweight title defense against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey.   Demonstrating the fire in the gym that sets him apart from most other fighters, the Sarangani representative said Tuesday he is “hungry to fight” anew.   Pacquiao had a 90-minute workout at the Johnny Elorde Gym on Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City, after running along the hills of San Mateo, Rizal, in the morning.   “I missed the boxing gym,” he told the Inquirer. “It’s been six months since I totally stopped after the Clottey fight. I am hungry to fight and I enjoy training.”   Pacquiao said he is changing plans to leave for Baguio City on Sunday to begin training starting Monday, adding he would continue to train at the Elorde Gym, which is close to the Batasan Pambansa complex.   On Monday, he jogged in the morning, attended two committee hearings in Congress, came to the gym and trained, and then went back to Congress to attend the sessions.   Pacquiao said there is no conflict in pursing his career as a boxer and his responsibilities as a public servant because it all boils down to time management.   “There is no problem if you manage your time properly and you love what you are doing,” he said.   “I want to be a champion in terms of public service and to be known not only as a boxing champion but also a public servant. Politics is my second passion. I want to serve people.”   Pacquiao said he might train in Metro Manila for another one or two weeks before moving training camp to Baguio City.   Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach will fly in on Sunday, six days after conditioning expert Alex Ariza arrived to make sure he has everything that he needs when the training grind begins.   The “Fighter of the Decade” battles the much taller and bigger Mexican Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the vacant WBC super welterweight title.   “I’m really excited about this fight because Margarito is very aggressive and is also big and taller than me,” Pacquiao said. “It will be a great fight.”   Margarito stands five inches taller than Pacquiao and enjoys a six-inch reach advantage.   During training, Pacquiao concentrated on rapid-fire flurries of punches, in-and-out movement and speed in lateral movements, indicating that Margarito won’t be able to catch him or contend with his speed and power.   Elorde, a former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, said he was impressed with Pacquiao’s condition.   “It’s like he never stopped training. He is one of a kind.”