Team Pacquiao transfer according to plan

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is assuring Filipino fight fans that their recent movement was done in an orderly and planned manner. Pacquiao said their decision to leave Baguio City ahead of their announced Oct. 23 trip was easily arrived at as the Filipino is already reaching peak form.

Fight fans in different internet forums have been criticizing Pacquiao’s choice of Baguio City as the boxing champion’s training camp in preparation for his upcoming battle with world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Reports came out that some members of Team Pacquiao were taken by surprise when the boxer supposedly made a hasty decision to leave Baguio Sunday night owing to the threat of typhoon Ramil. “Planado na yung pag-alis namin kasi nga nasa kundisyon na din ako. Kung hindi pa ako kundisyon hindi pa siguro kami aalis. Pero kahit naman may bagyo tuloy pa din naman ang ensayo," Pacquiao told GMANews.TV after his 10-round sparring Tuesday afternoon. Pacquiao said most of their decisions were confined amongst himself, Freddie Roach, conditioning expert Alex Ariza, Buboy Fernandez and the rest of Team Pacquiao. Tuesday afternoon inside Gerry Penalosa’s gym in Mandaluyong, Pacquiao sparred with Urbano Antillon and two-time world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo for three rounds each. Pacquiao ended his session with a four-round clash against light-middleweight Shawn Porter. “Parang flyweight yung bilis ni Manny pero yung lakas pwede na sa welterweight. Talagang magiging asset ni Manny yung speed niya," said newly-hired assistant trainer Dodie Boy Penalosa. For the first time in his illustrious career Pacquiao held his training camp in Baguio City for four weeks which started last September 21.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Pacquiao is set to leave Saturday night for Los Angeles. After a day’s rest The reigning super lightweight champion will resume his training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym for the next two weeks. Pacquiao will then taper off in Las Vegas the week of the fight. “Ready to fight na kami. I-maintain na lang namin ito sa huling three weeks," added Pacquiao. Pacquiao will challenge Cotto for the Puerto Rican’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147lb crown on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both agreed to fight at a catch weight of 145lbs. – GMANews.TV