Pacman training enters crucial stage

Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has intensified his preparations for his upcoming match with American boxer Jessie Vargas as his training entered its crucial stage.

A report on GMA News' Unang Balita on Friday said Pacquiao has been doing six rounds of sparring to prepare for his fight scheduled on November 5.

"Pick up na kasi malapit na yung fight. Patindi na nang patindi yung sparring pahaba na nang pahaba yung rounds so by next week yung heavy sparring talaga baka mag 10, 12 rounds na kami,” Pacquiao said.

Vargas has previously boasted that he would knock out Pacquiao within eight rounds, but the Filipino pride only shrugged this off.

"That's easy to say but hard to do. That's impossible. God is with us!” he said.

Meanwhile, sparring partner Jose Ramirez could not help but be amazed at Pacquiao’s strength and speed.

"He showed good speed with his lateral movement. He moved around really well. He showed better defense today than the previous sparring sessions. He has tremendous speed. His power got better too,” Ramirez said.

Pacquaio also had two sparring rounds with undefeated fighter Prabjath Singh.

Coach Freddie Roach is confident that Pacquiao would win against Vargas. He even said that Ramirez is better than Vargas.

"It was one of his best days in sparring with Jose so far. It was a good six rounds. Jose is a really tough kid. He keeps coming. He's very strong and I actually think he's a lot better than our opponent so I like what I see,” Roach said.

Team Pacquiao is scheduled to fly to the United States on Oct. 22, two weeks before the fight to be held at the Thomas & Mack Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News