Pacquiao pounds Buboy in punch-mitt session

MANILA, Philippines – Now Buboy Fernandez exactly knows what Freddie Roach goes through in training Manny Pacquiao for the past two months. Roach’s Filipino assistant cornerman handled the punch-mitt session Friday in the absence of the veteran American trainer and ended up with aching hands and shoulder brought about by the impact of Pacquiao’s punches. The 30-year old top pound-for-pound fighter intensely worked on the mitts for nine rounds as Fernandez was assisted by former two-time heavyweight champion Michael Moorer and conditioning coach Alex Ariza while Roach was in Puerto Rico for the Gerry Peñalosa-Juan Manuel Lopez title duel. Fernandez admitted that in the long years he’s been working with his close pal and childhood buddy, it’s only now that he ever felt like this. “Para kang binunggo ng trak," he said while changing his shirt dripping with sweat. “Hindi ko lang matiis yung lakas talaga. Sobra masakit." So fast Pacquiao is that Buboy had a hard time catching those brick-like punches and blows which he confessed really hurt his hands and arms. “Kapag nagbitaw siya ng tatlo o apat na suntok, mararamdaman mo talaga ‘yung kirot sa balikat mo, tsaka ‘yung biglang bitaw niya ng kaliwa na madiin," explained Fernandez. “Hindi siya katulad ng ibang boxers na kapag tumama, mararamdaman mo agad ‘yung impact. Ang kanya, una muna ‘yung tama, pang-huli na ‘yung impact. So, makirot, masakit talaga." For the second straight day, Pacquiao reported at training past his 1:00 p.m. schedule after spending the night celebrating the birthday of his brother Bobby at his posh Pallazo apartment. Even after completing his session at the mitts, Pacquiao continued working out with Fernandez, prompting fellow Filipino trainer Nonoy Neri to call out, “Pare, tama na yan." Pacquiao went on to do the speed ball, again asking his trainers to extend the six-minute workout to eight. Then he worked with the speed ball, took out his shirt and shadow boxed, stretched out a bit to cool down before finally calling it a day at the office. He later had dinner with his team and close friends at the nearby Thai restaurant. Saturday, Pacquiao will have a five-round sparring and then four more on Monday before proceeding to Las Vegas later in the afternoon. The Filipino already completed a total of 140 rounds of sparring. “Medyo pinababaan na namin ‘yung training," said Fernandez. “Pinaka-importante talaga ‘yung mitts kasi ina-apply pa rin namin ‘yung galaw ni Hatton." Unlike Roach and Pacquiao who favors a strong start, Fernandez would rather wait for the opportunity to strike at Hatton. “Mas maganda siguro kung maghintay na lang muna tayo. Mahirap sumabay agad, kasi itong Ricky hitter. Gusto niya sagasaan kaagad. So mahirap. So antayin na lang natin darating at darating yan. Pag natumba, tumba, kung tamaan, tamaan," he said. But there’s no doubt in his mind who would win the slambang fight. “Ang importante lang, huwag tayong magkumpiyansa. Pahero kasi silang malakas," he said. “Ang nakalamang lang sa atin masyado tayong mabilis." Those hurting hands and shoulders are living proof of the might Pacquiao has. – GMANews.TV