MAKING THE 130-lb class without really much trying is not a weighty issue for Manny Pacquiao.
General Santos City boxing patron Rey Golingan said this yesterday after the 28-year-old lefty showcased catquick reflexes against two sparring partners who he engaged for a total of seven rounds at the Abap Gym.
“Manny told me that it’s been a long while since he was able to put his weight in check this early,” said Golingan, who regularly watches Pacquiao’s afternoon workouts.
Pacquiao currently weighs 137 lbs, according to Golingan, and with the way things are looking, the boxing superstar will conquer the scales without a hitch since there’s still five weeks before the scheduled 12-rounder.
Pacquiao is booked to face unbeaten Jorge ‘Coloradito’ Solis of Mexico on April 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Training assistant Nonoy Neri said the extreme heat in GenSan is keeping Pacquiao’s weight in check.
“Ang init kasi kaya’t pawis na pawis si Manny habang nag-eensayo,” said Neri, who will join Pacquiao at the Wild Card in Hollywood next week.
Despite the oppressive heat, Pacquiao continues to display fiery form against Aaron Mergalejo and Jesar Ancahas, who are both tall and rangy just like Solis.
“Manny’s moves were really good today (yesterday). The speed is there,” said Golingan, whose boxing program in GenSan was where a reed-thin Pacquiao first strutted his stuff.
Pacquiao hasn’t fought since scoring a third-round knockout of Erik Morales last November in Las Vegas.
Solis is from the boxing hotbed of Guadalajara and is being trained by the maestro Jesus Rivero, who once trained Oscar De La Hoya.
