MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao’s preparations for his July 15 show in Kuala Lumpur reached fifth gear yesterday when he sparred 12 rounds at his Wild Card Gym in General Santos City.
The fight against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse is just around the corner, and very soon, Pacquiao and his entourage fly to the Malaysian capital.
Pacquiao traded blows with three sparring partners, who alternated on the 39-year-old superstar.
It’s the first time in this camp that he sparred a dozen rounds, and from here, the number goes down to eight, six and four until he spars for the last time on July 9, the day he leaves for Malaysia.
Head trainer Buboy Fernandez, according to those who were present during the sparring session, liked what he saw.
“We are right on track. We have two weeks more to go and Manny is ready. We don’t want him to peak too soon,” said Fernandez.
Last Friday, Pacquiao ran up the steepest hills in Sarangani as he worked on his endurance.
And then yesterday, sparring went full gear against Arnel Tinampay, Jheritz Chavez and Australian Goerge Kambosos Jr. in that order.
Pacquiao has not fought in a year since he lost his WBO welterweight crown to Jeff Horn in a very controversial decision in Brisbane.
Now he’s out to regain lost glory, and prove that he remains in the elite circle.
“I want to be world champion again,” said Pacquiao at the start of training camp.