“After 13 days of strength and conditioning and boxing drills at Wild Card plus weeks more of working out in the Philippines in February, it was great to finally put on the headgear and spar,” Pacquiao said two days ago.
“My sparring partners gave me good work today,” he added. “They were perfect for testing the strategy Freddie and I have developed to beat Floyd Mayweather. I was very happy with my stamina and speed today.”
Naturally neither Pacquiao nor Roach have revealed the details of how they will approach the May 2 superfight in Las Vegas with Money Mayweather. The 38-year-old Mayweather, 47-0, is known to be one of the most patient fighters in boxing, he waits, he waits, he strikes.
Pacquiao’s opponent throws relatively few punches in comparison to others but he is the very best in boxing at landing them and has a +24 when it comes to punches landed and punches landed on him. So Pacquiao, 57-5-2, has his work cut out for him.
Two of the sparring partners he is working with are Edis Tatli if Finland, 27, and Kenneth Sims Jr., just 21. Working with their youth cannot help but benefit the 36-year-old Pacquiao, who earlier this week sparred five rounds with Tatli and then three more with Sims Jr. in the same day. Trainer Roach likes what he sees.
“When Manny threw out the first punch it felt like opening day of Irish spring training,” Roach said on St. Patrick’s Day. “Manny looked so fresh today. I’m very happy with what he showed me. You couldn’t tell he had been away from the ring since the Algieri fight in November.
“Manny is on fire in the gym (and) I am confident May 2 will be celebrated for years to come as Saint Manny’s Day – the day he drove Mayweather out of boxing.”
Doubtless for Floyd Mayweather, them are fighting words.
