Manny Pacquiao Showing No Mercy To Sparring Partners

Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners are taking a beating at the hands of the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter as he steps up his training for the showdown with Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

Super featherweight David Rodela (12-1-2, 6 KO’s) who was knocked out in the tenth round of sparring the other day with a devastating left straight to the body and was out for five minutes was back in the Wild Card Gym Tuesday and absorbed more punishment from Pacquiao’s fists of fury.
Rodela who sparred first instead of last which was what happened the previous time was “hurt again in the second round this time with a right hook” according to conditioning expert Alex Ariza.

Ariza said Pacquiao engaged undefeated light welterweight Hector “Teco” Serrano (8-0, 3 KO’s)in a good sparring session and “also hurt him with body shots a couple of times.” Pacquiao wound up ten rounds of sparring with undefeated lightweight Urbano Antillon (25-0, 18 KO’s), the fighter who crushed Pacquiao’s younger brother Bobby Pacquiao in one round.
Ariza said trainer Freddie Roach said that Pacquiao was “too strong now” and he is hoping to bring in another, even tougher sparring partner for Thursday.

Ariza told that “everything couldn’t look better right now” adding that they “just cant wait to see the fight” against IBO light welterweight champion
He said both Roach and assistant trainer and former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, a southpaw, were clearly impressed with Pacquiao who, according to Ariza, “did everything to the T according to the game-plan” drawn up by Roach and Moorer.

Ariza said Pacquiao’s “conditioning and work-rate is unbelievable” and “there were no distractions” which proved to be a big help after Roach shut out even close Team Pacquiao members and allowed only the training staff and sparring partners inside the gym.