Pacquiao to start working on conditioning this week

MANILA -- Amid concerns that Manny Pacquiao may have been “relaxing too much” away from boxing, the pound-for-pound king assured his fans that he still has enough time left for training.

Pacquiao said his title showdown with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto would require him to train for eight weeks, not more, not less.

“Kasi ‘pag lumampas ng eight weeks iyong training ko, medyo ma-over train ako, hindi maganda kondisyon ko sa fight. ‘Pag bumababa ng sa eight weeks masama naman ang kondisyon ko,” said the country’s most beloved boxing hero from General Santos City.

Pacquiao said he still has a lot of time to return to his usual fighting form as he is likely to start working on his condition this week.

Cotto has started working out for the fight as early as August.

“Oo nga si Cotto mag-iisang buwan na. Ako mag ii-start pa lang this week, may time pa naman,” he said.

Pacquiao said he will fly to the US on September 9 to participate in the fight’s four-city press tour set to kick off in New York.

He said he is likely to return to the Philippines after the tour to begin his “high altitude” training in Baguio.

Pacquiao said he will still have to settle with coach Freddie Roach their final training site before eventually heading to Las Vegas for the November 14 fight.

Roach said the Filipino’s fight against Cotto should not be taken lightly as they expect the Puerto Rican to be in his best condition.

"Anyone who thinks this fight is easy is a fool. He's going to be at his best," said Roach.

“I've been studying this guy, watching his fights, I have a good strategy in mind and we just have to implement it now,” he added. With a report from TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/02/09/pacquiao-start-working-conditioning-week