Pacquiao sluggish in sparring bouts
MANILA—Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao looked far from impressive in six rounds of sparring against undefeated Glen Tapia and Michael Medina at the Shape Up Gym in Baguio City Saturday.
Pacquiao, who drove down to Manila after his workout, went three rounds each with his sparring partners and didn’t look good from all accounts of those who were in the gym.
There were reports that he appeared tired after a couple of rounds, allowing Tapia (7-0, 5 KOs) and Medina (24-2-2, 19 KOs) to get the better of him amidst growing concern among Team Pacquiao members that his constant travel to keep other appointments was wearing him down.
Pacquiao, who attended the Philippine Military Alumni Association Family Sportsfest last weekend at Camp Aguinaldo, is scheduled to lead the oath-taking of runners in the 10.10.10 Pasig River run today.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the Inquirer that the boxing champ would also “take the day off on Monday” and remain in Manila because of a reported meeting with President Benigno Aquino III.
Koncz said Pacquiao, who is scheduled to fight Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Texas for the WBC super welterweight title, would jog in the morning and run on the track later.
Some Team Pacquiao members said the two-day illness which caused him to skip training and his decision to keep on playing basketball in the evening while missing roadwork the next day are certain to affect his conditioning.
He has only had one or two sessions so far with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
One of Pacquiao’s chiefs of staff Joe Ramos said Pacquiao’s sparring was “OK,” which was in stark contrast to the normal exuberant accounts by Team Pacquiao members of how well Manny sparred.
Sources said trainer Freddie Roach appeared to be upset over how the Pacquiao training camp is going.
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