Thursday, October 23, 2025
Thursday, October 23, 2025

Pacquiao incredibly ‘sharp’

SHOWING little signs of jet lag, former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao looked in fine shape based on his first workout in the United States last Monday (Tuesday in Manila) for his world welterweight title clash with undefeated American Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao began the day with a five-mile (eight-kilometer) early morning run and did 1,000 sit-ups afterwards, according to a statement by his camp released yesterday.

Before heading for the Wild Card gym of his former chief corner man Freddie Roach, the fighting lawmaker first took a random dope test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association at his house.

This was followed by a three-hour session at Roach’s gym where he did nine rounds on the punching mitt, with each punch “exploding like a July 4th firecracker,” the statement said.

“If this is how Manny hits with jet lag, I may need to get new gloves with thicker padding for our next sessions,” Roach noted.

The Pinoy fighter arrived last Sunday after the Philippine Airlines flight that took him to California was delayed as one of the passengers fell ill.

“He (Pacquiao) was incredibly sharp for his first day. He hit hard with good power. After all these year, I’m still amazed at the great condition he’s in when he comes to training camp,” added the famous American ring guru.

“After traveling around the world yesterday (Sunday), Manny put in a full day here — mitts, speed bag, shadow boxing — the works,” Roach observed. “The best part was at the end when he lifted his shirt and showed me his six-pack and said, ‘Freddie, I’m still here.’”

Pacquiao, 42, said he has to be in the best shape of his life against the younger and taller Spence, 31, who will stake his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight crowns.

“Errol Spence is a very difficult fight for me; perhaps the most difficult of my career,” he said. “But I have been an underdog my whole life. I am used to that. It is why I work so hard. But the love and the prayers of my fellow Philippine citizens and Filipinos around the world sustain and inspire me.”

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