Former pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao said he's getting stronger and better as his training for his upcoming showdown with Brandon Rios becomes more intense at the Pacman Wildcard Gym in General Santos City, Philippines.
Looking to revive his career after absorbing a devastating loss at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has been doing all kinds of exercises to get him in shape ahead of his welterweight showdown with the Californian brawler Rios.
Feeling Like 25 Again
Top Rank promotions held a media conference call last week, and Pacquiao said he was feeling very much optimistic about his training camp.
"My training here in General Santos City is very good and I am getting very excited for the fight. I have been training very hard for this fight and right now I feel like I am 25 years old and training that way. I feel very good. My stamina and my quickness and power are there and I am very excited about that," said Pacquiao, who has been doing a combination of roadwork and plyometrics workouts as part of his strength and conditioning regimen.
Top Rank head honco Bob Arum was also convinced that his prized fighter is looking sharper and stronger than he ever was in his last few training camps.
"Manny, to me, looks more dedicated than ever and General Santos City is the perfect place for him to train. He concentrates on nothing but his training," said Arum in conference call transcript posted on Philboxing via ABS-CBN News.
"I think the Manny Pacquiao you are going to see on November 23rd and going to be perhaps better than the Manny Pacquiao we saw against De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto," he added.
Without Alex Ariza, Distraction no longer exist
During the conference call, Pacquiao said he's having a distraction-free training camp so far, and part of the reason is his training without former conditioning guru Alex Ariza.
"My training camp is good and we are very happy with Freddie Roach without Alex. We are very excited. We are very focused in training and we have no distractions. For this fight in Macau, it is better to train here in the Philippines. It is always better to train near, or in the same region as where the fight is. Since the fight is in Macau, this is the best place for me, here in the Philippines. This training camp has been about focus," said Pacquiao, who unceremoniously split with Ariza following a reported squabble between the conditioning coach and Pacman's head trainer.
Ariza is now the strength and conditioning coach for Rios and several fighters handled by Roberto Garcia, the reigning Trainer of the Year.