Pacman back in training after brief bout with flu

It’s as if Manny Pacquiao didn’t suffer from the flu at all. The Filipino boxing champion was back to his old fiery self on Thursday and sparred for six rounds exactly 24 hours after completely missing training camp for the first time due to sinusitis. The 31-year-old top pound-for-pound fighter in the world went three rounds each with Glen Tapia and Michael Medina at the Shape Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel in Baguio City. “Here I am, back in training as if I'm not sick," said Pacquiao through a GMANews.TV insider, who was one of the few privileged to witness the strictly closed-door session. Later on, just when Pacquiao was through with his training, newly-arrived Amir Khan came over and spent some time talking with the Filipino southpaw, trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. Khan arrived early Thursday morning from Los Angeles, and was hurriedly whisked off to the country’s Summer Capital where he'll be involved in Pacquiao's training sessions for the next three weeks. The 23-year-old native of Lancashire, United Kingdom has been tapped by Roach as an additional sparmate to hone Pacquiao for his November 13 title showdown with Antonio Margarito.

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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The sparring sessions will also serve to help train Khan for his December 11 title defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight belt against Marcos Maidana. Khan, a silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics, said he sees Pacquiao stopping Margarito late in their 12-round championship bout. “Whoever you put in front of Manny Pacquiao, I think Manny will beat easily. He’s got the skill, he’s got the speed, he’s got the footwork. This fight I think Manny will stop him maybe in Round 8 or Round 9," said Khan. Pacquiao and Khan are stable mates in Roach’s highly-popular Wild Card gym in Los Angeles. “Manny is tougher. Manny is big and strong as well. It’s like Manny is a nice guy outside the ring but when he gets in the ring, he’s an animal," Khan added. Counting Thursday’s session, Pacquiao has so far sparred a total of 19 rounds with six weeks to go before his much-awaited encounter with Margarito at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Roach plans to have Pacquiao spar for at least 100 to 110 rounds to get him in perfect shape by fight night. – JVP, KY, GMANews.TV