Source: abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA – “The People’s Champ” Manny Pacquiao will be working on his footwork and speed training in the coming weeks, according to his conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
“He’s just right on track,” Ariza told abs-cbnNEWS.com in an exclusive interview Tuesday. He said he just has to make sure that Pacquiao’s added weight will not slow him down.
Pacquiao said he is comfortable at his current weight of 149 lbs., ABS-CBN News reported. The Filipino boxing superstar will face WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at a catch weight of 145 lbs. on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ariza, meantime, said of Pacquiao’s present condition: “I couldn’t be more pleased. He’s so good, so strong.”
Just like what coach Freddie Roach earlier told the media, Ariza said he is certain that Pacquiao will knockout his Puerto Rican opponent.
“For sure, if he lands a shot,” he said, explaining that Cotto “can’t stand the power” of the Pacquiao punch.
“When we show up on the day of that weigh-in, Manny will be bigger. And that night of the fight, he'll be stronger,” assured the conditioning coach.
Bigger and stronger
Ariza even stressed that the bigger opponent does not always prevail, as proven by Pacquiao in previous matches.
“They said that about David Diaz, that David Diaz was bigger and stronger. They said that about Oscar de la Hoya, that he was bigger and stronger. And we came in bigger and stronger. They said that about Ricky Hatton,” he noted.
Pacquiao defeated Diaz by technical knockout in Round 9 (June 28, 2008), de la Hoya by TKO in Round 8 (Dec. 6, 2008), and Hatton by KO in Round 2 last May 2.
“Just because some guy's fatter doesn't make him bigger and stronger,” remarked Ariza.
Pacquiao will continue training in Manila before he leaves for the United States Saturday night. He will resume training on Oct. 26 at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
The pound-for-pound king began training for his fight against Cotto last Sept. 21 in Baguio City.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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