MANILA, Philippines – Lydell Rhodes needed only four rounds to realize how good Manny Pacquiao is inside the ring.
The undefeated American sparred with Pacquiao last Tuesday, and left the Wild Card Gym in General Santos City as impressed as everybody else who came to watch.
?It was good. Manny is in better shape than I thought he?d be. It was a good surprise,? Rhodes, who?s 19-0, told GMA-7 in an interview.
Rhodes will be back to spar with Pacquiao today and in the days up ahead.
The 26-year-old was brought in because he can do what Bradley does or even a little better.
?Just like Bradley, I have the same build and height. But I say I?m faster. We both have good movement. I do a lot of things similar to Bradley,? he said during the interview. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Rhodes said they?re working on a few things now.
?We have a little bit of a gameplan. We?re making some more adjustments. We?re doing very well,? he said.
Pacquiao is gearing up for an April 12 rematch with Timothy Bradley, who pulled off a questionable decision the first time they fought in June 2012.
Pacquiao admitted that he took Bradley lightly in that fight, and that he was ?too nice? to his opponent inside the ring. This time will be a whole lot different.
Freddie Roach, now in General Santos to supervise Pacquiao?s training, is hoping to see the old Pacquiao inside the ring when the rematch takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
He wants Pacquiao to score a knockout because it?s something he hasn?t seen in almost four years.
