Pacquiao has new sparmate

A major switch in the sparring session is underway for

Manny Pacquiao with the arrival yesterday in Baguio City of battlescarred Mexican Jose Luis Castillo.

"I will drop Urbano Antillon and replace him with Castillo," top trainer Freddie Roach said from the City of Pines where Pacquiao has been training since Sept.21 for the huge fights with Miguel Cotto on Nov.14 in Las Vegas.

Antillon, a super-lightweight, has been giving Pacquiao quality time the past two weeks alongside unbeaten super-welter Shawn Porter.

The 35-year-old Castillo, the former World Boxing Council lightweight champion known for his aggressive nature and toughness, has never sparred with Pacquiao before and is looking forward to working with the world's pound-for-pound king.

Castillo will get his baptism of fire tomorrow when Roach orders another sparring session at the Shape-Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel, the residence of the Filipino fighter until Oct.24.

Castillo actually arrived in the country early Saturday morning on board Philippines Airlines from Los Angeles although his journey actually began in his hometown of Hermosillo in Mexico.

Yesterday, a private plane owned by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson flew Castillo and another boxer, American superlight-weight Danny Escobar, to Baguio on board a private plane.

All roads leading to Baguio-- the Marcos Highway, Kennon Road and Naguillan Road-- have been closed due to landslides brought about by the storm so Singson extended his hand so Castillo and Escobar can be brought there.

Castillo is being touted to give Pacquiao a hard time in sparring and Roach warns that if the veteran puncher doesn't live up to expectations, he will immediately send him back.

"But I was assured that he is fit and ready," said Roach "But he better be (ready).

With two weeks remaining before Team Pacquiao uproot it's training camp for the for the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood, Roach said everything seems to be in place as far as the conditioning and progress of Pacquiao is concerned.

SOURCE: TEMPO

AUTHOR: NICK GIONCO