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Philippines, 31 Aug 2025 |
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PACQUIAO SPARS WITH AMIR KHAN PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 Oct 2008 Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, slowly stepping up his relentless preparation for the ?Dream Match? against Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6, has sparred with British lightweight hope Amir Khan (18-1, 14 KO?s) and junior middleweight Rashad Holloway (9-1, 5 KO?s) [Tuesday in Los Angeles -Ed]. Conditioning guru Alex Ariza, in an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, said Pacquiao went two rounds with Khan and four rounds against Holloway and clearly benefited from the session at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach. Ariza said Pacquiao ?did very well? with Holloway who is 5?10 and approximates the style of De La Hoya which is what Roach really likes and said Pacquiao is adjusting well to Holloway?s height. Ariza revealed that Pacquiao ?took a while to adjust to the speed of Khan but it was a lot different from Holloway because Khan is a lot faster than Holloway so it?s a good match.? He said it was a good mix of facing a big guy and then going up against someone with great hand speed such as Khan who is almost 6 feet tall. Ariza who was credited with getting Pacquiao into tremendous condition for his WBC lightweight title fight against David Diaz in terms of his weight and how he carried the extra poundage and went on to demolish Diaz in nine rounds said Pacquiao ?is doing really well.? The conditioning coach confirmed that Roach was upset the other day when somebody, apparently in the Pacquiao entourage, brought in people while Pacquiao was training. Ariza pointed out ?people know that the gym is closed and yet they still continue to show up. We understand that there are fans, or friends or family members but the truth of the matter is, there?s a sign that says the gym is closed.? Despite the seeming occasional distractions Ariza said ?I am very happy with this job. More importantly Manny is maintaining his weight and that right now is my biggest concern. According to Freddie he (Pacquiao) has great footwork, great speed and a much bigger puncher so if I can just hold the weight and not lose it,? the public will be treated to a great fight. He said that Pacquiao weighs a 152 pounds right now and would want him to come in around 147 at fight time which is what Roach also told us he?d like to see.  |
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