Pacquiao wraps up PHL training camp; impresses Roach

Freddie Roach is optimistic that Manny Pacquiao ended his training camp in the country on a positive note. The 52-year-old Roach was impressed on what he saw Saturday when the reigning welterweight champion of the world pounded Russian fighters Ruslan Provodnikov and Ruslan Nugaeve for seven more rounds at the M.P. Towers in Sampaloc, Manila. "Best day of sparring," Roach said. "Manny was great. He was very active today, although (Provodnikov) was just as aggressive." Including Friday's session, the eight-division world champion tallied 27 rounds of sparring, majority of which took place in Team Pacquiao's high-altitude training camp in Baguio City the last three weeks. The 33-year-old Filipino boxing superstar and his entourage, including Roach, left for Los Angeles Saturday night for the final phase of his preparation for his scheduled June 9 title defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 147-pound belt against Timothy Bradley. Roach said that he'll have a new set of sparmates for Pacquiao once they're in the U.S. to reinforce Provodnikov in preppeing up Pacquiao for the 12-round bout against the undefeated American. The five-time Trainer of the Year awardee, however, refused to reveal the names of Pacquiao's new sparmates. But one of boxing's greatest southpaws (54-3, 38 knockouts) said he is ready to make the sacrifice in the last four weeks of his training camp. "Tuloy ang training natin (sa L.A.). Siyempre, mas matindi na dun. Puro mabibigat na," said the Fighting Congressman from Sarangani province, who still managed to host the an episode of his GMA-7 game show Manny Many Prizes. As Pacquiao looks forward to a higher level of training in the U.S., he said he sad to leave his family behind. He said that one of his children even pleaded for him just to stay home. "Nakakalungkot dahil aalis na naman ako at maiiwan na naman sila habang nag-train tayo sa U.S. Pero pinapaliwanag ko na lang sa kanila na kailangan kong gawin ito, dahil kasama sa trabaho ko ito," said Pacquiao. — JVP, GMA News