Wine, women and song, not to mention the money, power and glory.
Yes, it can all be enjoyed if you happen to be one of the world?s top boxing champions. But to get there you have to pay your dues and keep on paying them. Boxing isn?t like other sports where you practice a couple of hours a day during the season. It?s more of a lifestyle, and the more you get out of shape between fights the more you have to get into shape leading up to your next bout (see Ricky Hatton).
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines knows all about this concept, and he?s putting the finishing touches on a grueling eight-week training camp while he prepares to take on Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas .
The 31-year-old boxer is working out with trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza in Baguio City in the Philippines before heading to Los Angeles on Oct. 23 to set up camp at Roach’s Wild Card Gym. However, while Pacquiao has impressed Roach up to this point, it?s a different story when it comes to his promoter Bob Arum of the U.S.
Arum watched Pacquiao work out last week and said if he went into the ring like that against Margarito he wouldn?t win the fight because his usual lightning speed wasn?t there. But he didn?t seem too concerned, saying he was confident Roach would have him in tip-top shape once the bell rings to start the fight.
Pacquiao will fight Margarito at a catch weight of 151 lbs. and it?ll be the heaviest he?s ever weighed for a bout. Ariza wanted to thicken up his boxer?s body to prepare for the naturally-bigger opponent, but it was apparent to most observers that Pacquiao?s hand speed and timing was suffering due to the added weight. He sparred 10 rounds on Oct. 19 and lost a few pounds and will he now focus on his hand speed and agility. Ariza said Pacquiao was worried about getting too big so they?ve reduced the plyometric routines in their training sessions because they add bulk and power.
