Manny Pacquiao Looks Stronger Than Ever in Camp

Following eight rounds of solid sparring with formrr world champion Jose Luis Castillo and undefeated light middleweight Shawn Porter, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach indicated he was really pleased with his prized fighter’s showing as he picks up tempo in preparation for his “Fire Power” showdown against WBO champion Miguel Cotto on November 14.

In a conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, conditioning guru Alex Ariza said Pacquiao did really well and that Roach said he had “never seen him (Pacquiao) look stronger.”

Castillo himself said he was “not used to movement like this” as shown by Pacquiao and added that in his assessment Pacquiao is “better than Floyd Mayweather Jr, is faster and stronger.”

Ariza said that Pacquiao gets hit only if he wants to get hit and that when he decides to move, nobody can touch him.

The conditioning expert who helped enhance the explosiveness of Pacquiao ever since he joined Roach some weeks prior to the title fight against David Diaz whom Pacquiao demolished in nine rounds and then annihilated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton said Pacquiao was “a little sore from the conditioning and strengthening routine” he’s been working on.

However, Ariza said Pacquiao “wants to pick it up. He’s seeing his body get firm and he looks and feels so strong.”

He said he was extremely satisfied with how Pacquiao is right now and expects him to get even better when they move to the Wild Card Gym in the final week of October.

Over in Miami, Florida, boxing writer Lem Satterfield reports that Miguel Cotto engaged in a spirited sparring session with talented southpaw Fred Tukes of Atlanta while Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago was on top of the situation in the ring.

Santiago was quoted as saying "We're a team and we're behind Miguel every single minute, thinking about the fight in Tampa. We have no distractions. Our focus is Manny Pacquiao and that's our target.."

Santiago said that the 28-year-old Cotto (34-1, 27 knockouts) has been "tirelessly" toiling in Florida in preparation for Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs). He disclosed that they did four weeks in [Cotto's native] Puerto Rico, and would accomplish eight weeks outside of Puerto Rico -- six in Tampa and two more in Las Vegas, starting on Nov. 1.

The trainer said they " wake up early in the morning to train in the morning workout, and we go to the gym because Manny Pacquiao is our No. 1 target."

Satterfield reported that during the sparring session Cotto's eyes were fixed firmly upon Tukes, whom he pursued from behind a rapier-like jab during the first of three, three-minute rounds with 30 seconds rest in-between.

"I'm working on everything -- my distance, how to take the control of every round," said Cotto. "I have a plan A, plan B, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have any problems the night of the fight." It was reported that Cotto pursued his rival like an animal tracking prey.

"[Santiago] said that he needed for me to give Miguel a lot of movement, try to make him miss and to throw straight left hands at him. I was trying to emulate Pacquiao as much as possible. I think I did a pretty good job ," said Tukes, a muscular, 35-year-old southpaw with a professional record of 8-1-1 that includes five knockouts.

At one point, Cotto trapped Tukes in a neutral corner and fired away. Tukes acknowledged that he "felt every punch."

"If Miguel gets Pacquiao on the ropes, I think that Miguel's body shots are going to be significant," said Tukes. "That overhand left and his straight right hand and his hook that he throws off of the jab -- he's a lot faster than people think that he is."

Source: boxingscene.com