BOXING pound-for-pound king Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao is in ?devastating form? with less than two weeks to go for his megabuck clash with British star Ricky Hatton, according to key members of Team Pacquiao.
?Manny is peaking just at the right time,? said his diet and conditioning expert Alex Ariza from the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. ?He?s simply amazing. He?s stronger and faster now than when he fought Oscar de la Hoya.?
Ariza was referring to Pacquiao?s masterful demolition of de la Hoya that ended with the former boxing top draw retiring in his stool at the end of the eighth round on December 6.
Rob Peters, chief of Pacquiao?s security, said by phone that Pacquiao is ?already in devastating form and raring to go,? and that everyone in Team Pacquiao, especially trainer Freddie Roach, is pleased with his physical conditioning.
?You should see him spar and workout to see what I mean,? said the 6?3? Peters, who is the man in charge in making sure Pacquiao gets enough rest from visitors all wanting a piece of him.
?Freddie had to bring in a new set of bigger, tougher sparring mates because they can?t keep up with Manny?s power,? Peters said. He added that only lightweight standout Urbano Antillon (25-0, 18 knockouts), whom he described as ?a future world champion,? remains from the original batch of spar mates.
Ariza said Pacquiao has tapered off his sparring from 12 full rounds most of last week to just 10, eight and six rounds.
Hatton, meanwhile, said he is not worried about Pac?quiao?s blurring hand speed, as it will not be a problem in their May 2 clash billed ?The Battle of East and West? at the MGM Grand Arena.
The British International Boxing Organization and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titlist is currently in Las Vegas, continuing his training camp that started in February in Machester, England. Hatton told the London-based Daily Mirror that his size advantage and aggressiveness would enable him to pull off one of the best-ever wins by a British boxer.
?Everyone was saying Paulie Malignaggi?s speed would cause me problems in my last fight. But, in the end, I out-boxed him and out-speeded him before I stopped him,? Hatton said of his 11th round stoppage of the New Yorker on November 22.
Hatton said he is ?extremely in great shape? and that he has the answers for Pacquiao?s speed.
?My size and strength will be the key in this fight against Manny Pacquiao,? said Hatton, who remains undefeated at junior welterweight in 12 years. ?The night I fought Kostya Tszyu I was a powerhouse and a murderous puncher. I bulldozed him into submission in the end.
?The reason why I?m a better fighter today is because I have still got that size and the bulldozing style and fitness.
?But I?ve got a jab now, plus better combinations and defence. Along with my size, that will be the key.?
