AFTER six days of intense training, pounding sparmates, battering the mitts and scaling the rugged terrains of Davao, Manny Pacquiao finally was able to convince Freddie Roach he has regain that form the American trainer was looking for the moment he set foot on this city known for its durian.
But Fahsan 3K Battery, Pacquiao’s opponent on Dec. 11, must be more worried on the fact that by Roach’s standards, Pacquiao has not really reached deadly form yet.
“He’s doing fine, getting better,” Roach said after letting Pacquiao do the mitts again Saturday before another huge crowd at the Davao City boxing gym.
Roach said Pacquiao’s stamina and conditioning have improved the last couple of days and indicated his fighter will be in great shape come fight night.
“He’s not there yet, but he’s doing great,” Roach said.
After the climb up the mountains for one hour Friday morning, Pacquiao negotiated the city’s flat terrains Saturday as ordered by Roach.
“We jogged for four miles and he appears fine,” Roach said.
What made Roach more impressed was the fact that Pacquiao now tipped the scales at 128 pounds, just two over the featherweight limit.
Some two weeks back, Pacquiao was reportedly at 140.
But with a lot of improvements noted by Roach and the rest of the Pacquiao camp, the Filipino pug is indeed hitting top form.
Last Friday, Pacquiao sparred for 10 rounds against Philippine lightweight champ Fernando Montilla and former RP No. 1 Christopher Saluday.
Fast with feet and quick with his hands, Pacquiao pounded both fighters non-stop. Using tremendous speed and power, Pacquiao drew cheers from the crowd who were gathered inside the gym.
Watching closely from the sidelines, Roach, meanwhile, nodded each time Pacquiao land a right hook.
Pacquiao wraps up his training in Davao City this Thursday before taking the last flight to Manila on the evening to resume his work out the following day.
