Manny Pacquiao delayed his training in Baguio

MANILA, Philippines — A delay of a few days will not affect Manny Pacquiao’s preparation for the Nov. 13 fight with Antonio Margarito, the pound-for-pound king’s conditioning coach said on Thursday.

Alex Ariza said that even if Pacquiao eventually decides to postpone his trip to Baguio until later next week instead of this Sunday, the Filipino puncher would still have enough time to reach fighting form.

“Manny already knows his body well enough unlike before when we were still starting out,” said Ariza, who has been supervising Pacquiao’s conditioning and nutrition since mid-2008.

Chief trainer Freddie Roach is actually arriving in Manila tomorrow morning alongside two sparring partners and is looking forward to the start of the eight-week camp in Baguio on Monday.

In the end, Ariza said it would still be “Manny who will the call the shots (on where to train).”

Early this week, Pacquiao showed up for two straight days at the Elorde Gym on Del Monte Ave. in Quezon City.

Pacquiao looked trim and fast and furious during his short workout under Buboy Fernandez and said he might use the Elorde Gym until next week before going to Baguio, site of his camp during the runup to the Miguel Cotto bout at around the same time last year.

Joe Ramos, another member of Team Pacquiao, said it would be better for his boss to just remain in Metro Manila in the entire training camp owing to his duties in Congress being the Sarangani lawmaker.

“Good luck,” texted Ramos, one of Pacquiao’s consultants in Congress, when told about Roach’s determined plea to bring Pacquiao to Baguio at the soonest possible time.

Source mb.com.ph