LOS ANGELES-They outweigh Manny Pacquiao by at least 10 pounds and stand at least three inches taller but still, the Filipino champion held his ground and made a strong statement with his fists, gaining respect and admiration from sparring partners Friday at the Wild Card gym here.
Mexican Raymundo “Sugar” Beltran, an up-and-coming super-featherweight who currently weighs 137 pounds, got a good taste of Pacquiao’s power and speed, being the freshest addition to a long list of sparring partners Pacquiao has faced since setting up camp almost a month ago.
Pacquiao did another 12 rounds Friday, two weeks before his May 8 duel with WBA and IBF featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Every round was well-applauded by a sizeable crowd which watched Pacquiao take the fight to the Mexican Beltran, who also gave the Filipino a tough time for the first five rounds.
