Manny Pacquiao remains as lethal at lightweight (135 lbs) despite going up at 152 pounds.
“I can feel his power,” said trainer Freddie Roach after presiding over Pacquiao?s workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club, less than two months before the Filipino sensation faces Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas.
Roach had to wear a body cushion to protect himself from getting hurt as teacher and student worked on ways to neutralize De La Hoya?s natural advantage in size.
“One time, I felt as if the energy was drained from me when he hit me on the body,” said Roach, obviously more than pleased that the dreaded punching power of Pacquiao remains at a higher weight level.
As they head into training camp proper, the 48-year-old Roach said he doesn?t have any concerns about Pacquiao moving up in weight.
“I can?t see Manny losing this fight. I am really confident,” said Roach.
Pacquiao and De La Hoya have agreed to meet at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs during the official weigh-in on the eve of the scheduled 12-rounder with the former expected to be at least 150 lbs and the latter not lower than 160 lbs come fight night.
Owing to their inability to spend quality time training during the recently-concluded press tour that brought them to six major cities across the America in seven days, Roach revealed Pacquiao hasn?t been displaying the lightning-quick reflexes that he is known for.
“We just arrived from the press tour and we?re still trying to get back to our normal selves after all that traveling,” stressed Roach, sounding upbeat that after they spend a few days together in the gym, Pacquiao is going to regain his speed.
Roach disclosed that Pacquiao?s first sparring session will be on Tuesday (Oct. 14) and Rashad Holloway, a 5-10 super-welter from North Carolina will be the first to test Pacquiao?s mettle.
Then Roach will call in Arron Robinson and Yuri Foreman, fighters who can mimic De La Hoya?s style and who are also the same height as the Golden Boy, who is 5-10.
Asked whether sparring against these guys can do more harm than good, Roach shrugged it off, saying “Manny needs to work with these (bigger) guys and I know he?ll stand his ground.”
In the coming weeks, Amir Khan, the highly-touted British lightweight, will check in and work out with Pacquiao.
“He?s got a good style that we need for this fight,” said Roach, who has scheduled sparring days every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the last Monday or Tuesday before the Dec. 6 bout.
