Pacman Starts Buildup

With the press tour done and over with, it’s time for both fighters to hit the road and gear up for their Nov. 12 clash in Las Vegas.

It’s only two months before the fight that should put an end to all the controversy surrounding their first two meetings.

Pacquiao arrived home Saturday morning from the whirlwind press tour that covered 25,000 miles in less than a week.

From the NAIA Terminal 2, he took a connecting flight to his hometown in Sarangani, and hosted his popular game show in the evening.

This week, Pacquiao said he plans to train at the Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati, as he awaits the arrival of trainer Freddie Roach from the US.

Roach said he’s flying in on Sept. 17, and the following day they leave for Baguio City for three weeks of intense training at the Shape Up Gym.

Roach is bringing in Jorge Linares, the former WBC featherweight champion from Venezuela, as sparring partner for Pacquiao.

Sparring begins on the second week of training in Baguio.

Pacquiao is not starting from scratch because the week before he left for the press tour, he’s been out running and visiting the gym.

Even while in New York, he went out for a 50-minute run in and around Central Park.

Juan Manuel Marquez has his training calendar checked as well, and he told the press during the tour that he’s looking at 12 weeks of training.

“If Manny trains for 10 weeks, I train for 12 weeks. I want to be ready and prepared for this fight with my speed, power and strength,” he said.

While he was in Manila last week for the tour’s kick-off leg, he did a few rounds of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta.

Ricardo Jimenez of Top Rank said Marquez has been alternating road work and indoor strength exercises the last couple of weeks now.

“If he’s not out running, even inside his hotel room during the tour he’s been doing strength exercises. It’s 45 minutes a day on these exercises,” said Jimenez.

Marquez went out for a run in Mexico the other day, and yesterday he was at the gym. Jimenez said serious training begins tomorrow.

(source: Phil Star)