Pacquiao braces for heavy training, sparring

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao braces for a more intensified training as he enters the final five weeks of preparations against British bomber Ricky Hatton. In his regular column “Kumbinasyon" posted at Philboxing.com and Abante Sunday, the reigning pound for pound king said he’s looking forward to heavier stuff – highlighted by 12 rounds of sparring - at the Wildcard gym in LA. “Sa pagpasok ng huling limang linggo ng training para sa nalalapit na laban namin ni Ricky Hatton sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada, papahirap ng pahirap ang ginagawa naming paghahanda upang lalong lumaki ang tsansa natin na manalo sa sagupaan," Pacquiao reported. “(At this point) Anim na rounds na ang aking sparring papunta sa 12 rounds sa susunod na buwan (April)." Pacquiao had started the sparring part of his training regimen, going toe-to-toe in intense exchanges with the likes of reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) super-featherweight champion Jorge Linares of Venezuela and lightweight contender Urbano Antillon. Amid all these, the 30-year-old Pacquiao is still embroiled in a bitter word war with ABS-CBN after his botched “transfer" to the giant network but the fighter seems to leave all these behind – at least while he’s inside the famed sweatshop owned by celebrated trainer Freddie Roach. Helping shield Pacquiao from the “distraction" is his better half, Jinkee, whose arrival in LA brought added inspiration to the bet from General Santos City. “Sa hirap ng training, ang kanyang pagdating ay malaking tulong dahil biglang napapawi ang lahat ng pagod at sakit ng katawan na nadarama. Ngunit hindi naman magtatagal ang aking asawa dito sa Los Angeles dahil kailangan din siya sa bahay kung saan ang aming apat na anak ay naiwan," he shared. Pacquiao vowed to continue making sacrifices at the training camp in order to emerge victorious against Hatton on May 2. The Pac Man is gunning for Hatton’s International Boxing Organization (IBO) world junior welterweight title while trying to keep a firm grip on the mythical P4P throne. –GMANews.TV