GENERAL SANTOS CITY — In a span of less than two weeks, Manny Pacquiao has already left a trail of aching bodies behind and his Canadian adviser Mike Koncz had no choice but to call on somebody from Manila who is not only fresh but somebody who might be able to endure the fury of the Filipino’s punches.
“We brought him in the hopes of seeing him push Manny around,” said Koncz on Saturday moments after fetching light welterweight Arnel Tinampay at the airport.
Pacquiao has been feasting on Jesar Ancahas and Aaron Mergalejo lately that the two men have almost complained of aches and pains from all over.
“We had to get another sparring partner because the two have been getting banged up badly,” said training assistant Buboy Fernandez. “Mergalejo’s been hurt, while Ancahas has been knocked down.”
Pacquiao is in the thick of preparations for his April 14 showdown with undefeated Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Since beginning sparring two weeks ago, Pacquiao has logged a total of 31 rounds after adding another eight rounds Saturday afternoon. Pacquiao sparred three rounds each with Aaron Mergalejo and Tinampay and two with Ancahas.
“At this point in time, I am giving Manny a six (on a scale of 1 to 10),” said Koncz. “That’s still great considering that he has four weeks to train.”
Australian Justin Fortune, who is substituting for Freddie Roach, now in Puerto Rico to train Oscar De La Hoya, is keenly awaiting his arrival.
Before Roach left for the Caribbean, he signed up two rangy fighters who mimic the style of Solis to spar with Pacquiao and left instructions that Fortune should follow to the letter.
As in the past, Pacquiao sweated it out doing the skipping rope routine, speedball, double-end bag, calisthenics and a little shadowboxing.
Told that the heat inside the gym that is owned by long-time supporter Rey Golingan was too much, Pacquiao answered that “you’re lucky that there is wind coming inside because in the past few days, there’s no wind and you can feel the extreme heat.”
“Training in this condition is doubly hard because of the heat,” said Pacquiao.
If everything goes on as planned, Pacquiao’s days here in his hometown is numbered.
Neri said Pacquiao is planning to leave just before March 17 so he could watch close friend Gerry Pe?alosa’s world title crack in Las Vegas.
