Pacquiao training cut to 120 rounds

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao will have no more than 120 rounds of sparring for his May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said it’s more than what they need to get in top shape, unlike before when sparring rounds get as high as 150.

“We don’t need that many rounds anymore,” said Roach who started cutting down on the number of sparring rounds with the Joshua Clottey fight.

Instead of more sparring sessions, Pacquiao puts in more time in strength and conditioning under Alex Ariza and making sure he doesn’t slow down.

Pacquiao will begin his sparring sessions today at the Shape Up Gym in Baguio, against old hands David Rodela and Shawn Porter.

A couple other sparring partners were supposed to fly in, but because Pacquiao is leaving for the United States on April 2, Roach found it impractical.

The other sparring partners will instead jump in when Pacquiao begins working out at the Wild Card Gym on the first Monday of April.

Pacquiao spars on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, normally kicking it off with three to four rounds. Then it gradually increases, reaches a peak of 12 before tapering down.

Pacquiao will only spar in Baguio today and Thursday. On Friday they drive down to Manila, and may resume sparring on Saturday at the Elorde Gym in Quezon City or Planet Jupiter in Makati.

They will fly to the US on April 2.