Pound-for-pound superstar Manny Pacquiao will resume his sparring sessions today at the ABAP Gym in General Santos City under the supervision of his two Filipino trainers who have joined hands in the absence of the highly-respected Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao had sparred last Saturday for four rounds against his Filipino sparmates, and was reportedly so focused on his next fight that he skipped attending a boxing card that he co-promoted that evening in Manila.
Buboy Fernandez, who serves as Roach’s assistant everytime Pacquiao trains at the Wild Card Gym, has taken the reins of the Filipino’s training regimen, although it remains to be seen as to exactly when Pacquiao is set to depart for Los Angeles to continue training with Justin Fortune.
‘We will spar tomorrow,’ Fernandez told this writer when reached yesterday, pointing out that they have tapped the services of taller sparmates lightweight Jesar Ancajas of Davao City and tall super-featherweight Aaron Melgarejo as he gears up for a defense of his WBC International super-featherweight title against unknown Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Both Ancajas and Melgarejo are slated for different bouts soon, with the latter being groomed to face RP super-featherweight king Dodie Boy Agrabio in Cebu on April 8.
Trainer Nonoy Neri, who assists Fernandez in Pacquiao’s corner, pointed out that they are employing the same training regimen used by Pacquiao’s American trainer at the Wild Card Gym for his previous bouts.
Pacquiao did his usual gym routine yesterday at Rey Golingan’s gym, minus the sparring sessions which are reserved only for Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s.
“We are just training him as usual, using the American training style,” said Neri, who also doubles as team manager of Pacquiao’s basketball team when not training the iconic boxer.
A member of Team Pacquiao also informed that as of this writing, the Filipino superstar has yet to make up his mind as to his final departure date for the United States, although he indicated that the sooner, it will be better for Pacquiao.
Reports indicate that Pacquiao may not be able to leave soon owing to his political plans of running for Congressman in South Cotabato, and that he is still putting up the finishing touches of his machinery aimed at defeating the incumbent lawmaker Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
MAYOL SET TO TRAIN AT WILD CARD GYM
World-rated Rodel Mayol is set to depart for the United States this month where he would continue training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in preparation for his next fight.
Mayol was at the US Embassy yesterday to secure his American visa for his scheduled trip this month to Los Angeles, as he aims to break into the American boxing scene in hopes of luring the big-money fights.
In an interview yesterday, Mayol confirmed that he will soon be leaving for the United States, although he admitted there was still no fight scheduled for him in the immediate future.
“I will be training at the Wild Card Gym,” reported Mayol, who did not point who will be directly training him, Freddie Roach or one of his assistants.
Definitely, when Mayol sets foot at the Wild Card Gym, the renowned trainer will not be around to welcome him as he will be flying to Puerto Rico to train Oscar De la Hoya and ALA Boys Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista and Alex John Banal for their respective May 5 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mayol, who is coming off a first-round knockout win over a Japanese fighter last year, parades a win-loss record of 23-1 with 18 knockout victories, and is regarded as one of the country’s best world title prospects.
In his first crack at the WBC minimumweight title, Mayol lost a close unanimous decision to WBC champion Eagle Kyowa, which he blamed on poor preparation.
This time, Mayol hopes to chance all that as he aims to get yet another crack at a world title.
