Sparring sessions are very demanding and exhausting because they require the same effort and intensity of the actual fight. If a boxer isn’t in shape because of lack of preparation, he could be in danger of being injured during heavy sparring sessions.
While Pacquiao did well in his first sparring session against a local spar mate, he was reported to have slowed down and looked tired during his session with unbeaten Mexican spar mate Jose Ramirez at the Elorde Gym inside Mall of Asia last Thursday.
Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach, who flew in to join the camp last Tuesday, said Pacquiao looked tired as he observed on the second day of sparring against Ramirez.
“It was not such a happy day,” said Roach, comparing Pacquiao’s first sparring session against Ramirez. “I think he is getting a little tired. He looked a little flat. The work in the Senate is starting to get to him, so we’ll have to re-arrange his schedule a bit and give him two days off a week instead of one,” he added.
Roach made the right move to reduce the frequency of sparring sessions while Pacquiao is glued to his work in the senate which he is taking very seriously.
Sparring sessions that require more that six rounds can resume when the senate will be on recess from Oct. 20 to Nov. 7, 2016.
Right now, Pacquiao’s sparring sessions are too much and is happening too soon. Pacquiao has over 15 days to do full length sessions starting Oct. 20 when the senate adjourns.
Pacquiao is trying his best to fulfill his campaign promise to the electorate that he won’t allow his training for his upcoming fight to interfere with his duties in the senate.
So far, Pacquiao has not missed any session of the Senate Committee on Justice where he is a member. He is also busy with his Sports Committee where he is the chairman as well as his membership in other committees.
The fighting senator has been praised for his promise of perfect attendance in the senate and for his motion to remove Senator Leila de Lima as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice in the wake of the committee’s hearing on extra-judicial killings. Read more.
Pacquiao is early favorite to win over WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
