Pacquiao starts grind next month

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Freddie Roach said everything is in place for the start of Manny Pacquiao’s eight-week training camp for the rubber match with Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas: Three weeks in the Philippines and five weeks in Los Angeles.

Roach told the Bulletin that the first day of training will be on Sept. 19 in Baguio City, the homebase of Team Pacquiao until Oct. 8.

“I was told we start on that date and just like in the (Shane) Mosley fight, we will return to LA for the final five weeks of training after three weeks in the Philippines,” Roach said.

Jorge Linares, the 25-year-old Venezuelan lightweight, will join Roach in the Philippines and will be Pacquiao’s main sparring partner during the duration of the Baguio buildup.

“I think he’ll be enough for the first three weeks,” said Roach, who has been working with the stone-fisted Linares the past several weeks at the Wild Card Boxing Club.

Linares is in the gym getting ready to face southpaw Antonio DeMarco of Mexico on Oct. 15 in Los Angeles for the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight title.

Pacquiao is an 8-1 favorite to repulse Marquez, who battled the Filipino to an all-action 12-round draw the first time they met in May 2004 and lost a hairline split decision in the rematch in March 2008.

The third fight will be at a catch weight of 145 lbs with Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on the line.

According to TV boxing analyst Moy Lainez, who was part of the original Team Pacquiao that guided the fighter’s career from the start, said he doesn’t see any controversies taking place in the third fight.

“Once Manny hits him and Marquez goes down, Marquez won’t get up,” said Lainez, who had Pacquiao as a visitor to his birthday last Aug. 3.

“He (Pacquiao) told me that he feels very strong at welterweight that’s why he is very confident of getting the job done and leaving no chance for another controversy,” said Lainez.

source: mb.com.ph