READY FOR WAR

HOLLYWOOD-For the man in charge of keeping tab the weight and condition of the world's top pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao definitely looks primed up for a war a week to go into his clash with Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
Alex Ariza, one-third of the key personalities making up Pacquiao's corner asserted that the Filipino boxing champion is now settled with his fighting weight and sees no problem when he finally comes face-to-face with his gigantic, 5-foot-11 opponent on Nov.13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,Texas.
"He's definitely in top shape,"said Ariza, Pacquiao's condition and physical strength coach since 2008. "He looks good, his quickness is there. I've heard a lot of concerns about his size, but i think, you know sometimes one compliments the other."
Proof of what Ariza was stressing propped up in Friday's training at the Wild Card gym here where the 31-year-old southpaw worked out for two tough hours before an animated crowd that included former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa which he later capped by going 13 hard rounds at the mitts with trainer Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao currently weight at 147.5 pounds, four below the catchweight of 151 set for the 12 round bout.
But Ariza simply wants Pacquiao to be within 148 on the day of the fight as the load represents the Filipino's true fighting weight.
Like Roach and Pacquiao, Ariza a native of Colombia observe the fighting pride of the Philippines loses his speed and quickness when he weighs 150 or more.
"I don't want him at 150 because that not his comfortable weight," said Ariza, who first came on board as part of the team during the David diaz bout for the World Boxing Council lightweight championship.
Yet, even if Pacquiao comes in at 148 during the formal weigh-in, Ariza stressed Pacquiao will still enter the ring carrying the same weight since "his metabolism won't allow him to get bigger".
for Pacquiao bulk up, Ariza had to alter a little bit the food intake of the world's best fighter.
"We increased the fat intake and lowered the protein intake," said Ariza, who is sometimes at the receiving end of Pacquiao's wild antics while training at the gym.
"We also increased his intake of carbohydrates," he added it's actuaally making the adjustments needed to fuel him up to win the fight on Saturday." Neri who also cooks for the boxing champion admitted Pacquiao has been eating a lot in training compared to his previous fight.
Shortly after training, a simple awarding rite at the parking lot of the Wild Card gym took place where Pacquiao was presented a handsome 2011 model of Toyota Land Cruiser(worth$80,000) by the management of Toyota Glendale in it's effort to lend a hand in the promotion of the Manny Pacquiao Foundation.
Harlan Gittin of Toyota Glendale later also handed out to the boxing superstar a cheque.




BY:Gerry Ramos
Source: People's Journal