MANILA, Philippines ? While Manny Pacquiao is packing the pounds for his fight with Mexico’s Antonio Margarito, the “Tijuana Tornado” is strengthening his legs to get ready for his clash with the speedy and powerful 7-division world champion.
?We need strong legs to beat Pacquio,? Margarito?s trainer, Robert Garcia, said in a report posted on BoxingScene.com.
?Margarito goes straight up ? no trails ? he runs through brambles and bushes,? he revealed.
The Mexican?s running in the mountains of San Bernardino, California is part of his first phase of training.
?Antonio runs up the mountain for a hour, returns and then we?re off right away to the El Monte Gym which is nearby. There, Antonio goes into a hard workout – mitts, then heavy bag, jump rope, speed bag, It’s a long, hard workout. No sparring – at least, not yet,? Garcia went on.
Stronger legs in a boxer means stronger punching power and this could be Margarito’s answer to Pacquiao’s speed.
Pacquiao and Margarito will face off on November 13 for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title. Their bout will be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Garcia added that his ward will break camp at the El Monte Gym at the end of the week. The second phase of training will then take place in Oxnard, California.
?Margarito will spar for six weeks beginning next week,? Garcia mentioned. ?This is our game plan and we are right on schedule.?
Pacquiao, meantime, began conditioning himself for his formal training since last week. The boxer-turned-congressman started his training with Freddie Roach in Manila on Monday.
?Very good, he’s got the game plan already in mind. He knows the angles we have to use against this guy, knows he has to stay away from the right hand,? said Roach, who arrived in the country on Sunday along with sparring partners Glen Tapia and Michael Medina. (Click here for related story.)
Pacquiao will train in Manila in the next couple of days before moving up to Baguio City.
Two more fighters, one of them being Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., are also set to spar with the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion. ? With reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News and BoxingScene.com
