Manny ‘still half good’ in sparring

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Despite the disruptions in training, Freddie Roach is sticking to his prediction that Manny Pacquiao will stop Antonio Margarito when they clash for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight crown on Nov. 13 in Arlington, Texas.   And for his prophesy to come true, Roach intends to intensify Pacquiao’s training in the next two weeks.   “It would be a big week for sparring,” Roach told Manila-based sportswriters Monday. “This week and next week, it would be the toughest two weeks coming up.”   The trainer insisted he hasn’t seen Pacquiao’s old speed in sparring.   “He’s already 100 percent with the mitts, but only 50 percent in sparring,” Roach said yesterday.   The plan, according to the four-time Trainer of the Year, is for Pacquiao to go down to Manila after today’s training and to spar on Thursday.   A workout has been scheduled for Friday, before Pacquiao spars again on Saturday afternoon. The team leaves that night for Los Angeles.   While Roach expressed satisfaction with Pacquiao’s sparring partners, Glen Tapia and  Michael Medina, the boxing Hall of Famer said more sparmates with the same fighting style as Margarito will be available once they settle down at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.   Roach said waiting in the wings are Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, the 6-foot-1 New Yorker who is unbeaten in 20 fights (15 by knockouts), and Vanes Martirosyan (28-0 with 17KOs).   “We need a little more focus, but I think, overall, we’re doing okay,” said Roach.   Four weeks into training camp, Pacquiao has sparred for 36 rounds, and Roach has scheduled some 60 rounds more in the next fortnight before tapering off.   Though they started a bit late, compared to Pacquiao’s preparations against Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, Roach believes his prized ward has been consistent.   “We have good and bad days, but more good than bad lately, so it’s getting better and better,” said Roach, citing Pacquiao’s solid workout before the media at Shae Up gym here the other day.   Aware of reports that Margarito is training and sparring like an animal in Oxnard, California, Roach said he expects the fighter nicknamed “Tijuana Tornado” to spar for about 170 rounds.   Roach has lowered Pacquiao’s target to between 100 and 110 of sparring rounds since the seven-time, seven-division world champion “already knows what to do.”   Pacquiao’s training, occasionally disrupted by the Sarangani representative’s commitments and by a bout with colds, hit another snag yesterday after heavy rains brought by Typhoon Juan made it impossible for him to do roadwork. He slept up to 10 a.m., then ate brunch, according to Filipino trainer Nonoy Neri.   Well-rested, Pacquiao oozed with energy as he went through 10 rounds of sparring with Amir Khan, Tapia and Medina. Photo by Mark Giongco