How did Manny Pacquiao, the world’s best boxer, prepare for Saturday night’s superfight with Ricky Hatton? In short, he prepared by working with a legendary trainer, consulting with a former heavyweight champion, and doing a whole lot of sit-ups.
In a chat with FanHouse this week, Pacquiao talked about working with trainer Freddie Roach and former heavyweight champ Michael Moorer, and he also revealed that he does an ungodly number of sit-ups each day.
Asked about Moorer, who beat Evander Holyfield to win the heavyweight title in 1994, Pacquiao said, “He’s experienced and he’s a key part of the team. The way he teaches is good because he knows what it takes to be a championship fighter. It’s been good to have him on the team.”
Training at the Los Angeles gym owned by Roach, who has been voted boxing’s Trainer of the Year three times, has been a key part of Pacquiao’s rise to the top of the world pound-for-pound boxing rankings.
“I improve everything in the gym,” Pacquiao said. “I try different things and I’m always, always improving. Or trying to anyway. Coach Freddie tries to help me improve. … We have good sparring partners who go to the body. I’m working hard in the gym to prepare for (Hatton’s) boxing style.”
And as for the way he gets himself into shape, Pacquiao said it’s both simple and grueling: “Run in the morning, do about 2,000 sit-ups, then go to the gym around 1, then do another 2,000 sit-ups, and then rest,” Pacquiao said, adding, “I don’t lift weights at all.”
So there you have it. To become the best boxer in the world, all you need is a world-class trainer and a former heavyweight champion to work with, plus a lot of sit-ups and running. And Manny Pacquiao’s talent.
We’ll have Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton results and a live blog Saturday night here at FanHouse.
