Manny regains speed, power ‘He looked sharp, much better’

Slowly but surely, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is getting used to the extra weight. Although already bulked up for his showdown with Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13, Pacquiao still put up a masterful 11  rounds of sparring against three foes at the Shape Up Gym yesterday at the close of his training camp in Baguio  City.

“It (sparring) went okay,” Pacquiao told GMA News in Filipino. “My speed, power and footwork are back.” Forced to gain at least three pounds, Pacquiao appeared sluggish in sparring last Saturday, according to Top Rank chief Bob Arum. Now accustomed to the added poundage, Pacquiao impressed sparring partners Glen Tapia and Michael Medina and even World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Amir Khan yesterday. Khan and the unbeaten Tapia spent four rounds each and Medina three with Pacquiao as chief trainer Freddie Roach tried to refine strategies. Filipino trainer Nonoy Neri told the Inquirer that Pacquiao, who usually weighs 145 pounds at this stage of training, tipped the scales at 148 before the team drove down to Manila at 4:30 p.m. Team Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said everybody was pleased because Pacquiao “looked sharp and so much better.” Joe Ramos, a close associate, said Pacquiao will work out at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Stadium at 6:30 a.m. today before training at Elorde Gym in Quezon City in the afternoon. The seven-time, seven-division world champion will have his final sparring session in Manila tomorrow before taking the evening flight to Los Angeles.