Despite nursing a cold, Sen. Manny Pacquiao showed up for an eight-round sparring Thursday, proving that he is steadfast in his bid to regain the world welterweight crown on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.
“He had a bit of the cold but he sparred eight rounds,” said Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach yesterday just before going to the Elorde Gym for another day of intense training.
Barely a month before Pacquiao meets Jessie Vargas of the US, Roach is upbeat that they’ve been doing great and this is the reason why he has instructed sparring partners Jose Ramirez of the US and local recruit Leonardo Doronio to get ready for today’s session.
“I am thinking of doing a total of ten rounds tomorrow (today)…five (with Ramirez) and five (with Doronio),” said Roach, who will fly with Pacquiao to the US on Oct. 22.
Roach has nothing but praises for Doronio, who has been providing quality work as the back-up sparmate.
“That kid’s doing good (in sparring),” said Roach of the 27-year-old Doronio, a veteran of 31 fights that saw him travel to Japan and Mexico.
Pacquiao is the heavy favorite in the scheduled 12-rounder that will be hosted by Thomas and Mack Center.
Casino mogul Steve Wynn is joining hands with Top Rank chief Bob Arum in staging the Pacquiao-Vargas clash.