PACMAN START SPARRING

A big, legitimate super-super-welterweight fighter greeted Manny Pacquiao in his Baguio training camp as sparring session for his Nov. 14 showdown with Miguel Cotto promtly began Tuesday at the Shape-Up gym inside Cooyesan Hotel Plaza.
Unbeaten Shawn Porter engaged the world's top pound-for-pound fighter in three intense rounds, highlighted by numerous exchanges of hard shots, accrding to thse lucky enough to watch the action held behind closed doors.
"The three-round sparring was good, really good," said Pacquiao's adviser Michael Konz. "Malaki saka malakas," said a source, who saw the 21-year-old Porter of Akron Ohio spar with Pacquiao for the very first time.
Porter, holder of a perfect 10-0 ring record with 8 KOs, is a first-time Pacquiao sparmate in training camp, whom trainer Freddie Roach thoroughly handpicked to precisely imitate the fighting style of the 28-year-old Cotto, the regning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title holder from Puerto Rico.
"He's perfect for this training camp," said Roach of the 2007 National Golden gloves middleweight champion.
Porter is one of tw Pacquiao sparmates whoare now in Baguio City trying to get the Filipino ring icon in perfect shape for his 12-round fight with Cotto.
Lightweight Urbano Antillon, a regular Pacquiao sparmate, is the other one , while on a stand by call is another Pacman regular sparring partner David Rodela and Purto Rican Raymond Tito Serrano.
Sparring for nthe 30 year-old boxing champ will be thrice a week or every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
By tomorrow, he will go two rounds each with Antillon and Porter in time fofr the arrival of Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.
The vetaran boxing official will be immediately whisked to the City of Pines shortly upon arriving in Manila early morning Thursday.
Arum's visit at the Pacquiao trainig camp marks the scheduled madia day arranged by the boxing superstar's handlers, when training and work out by the Filipino ring idol will be made open to members of the working press.
Meanwhile, the Manny Pacquiao (MP) Foundation has donated P1 million for the benefit of people badly affected by typhoon Ondoy over the weekend.
Pacquiao himself refused to make a big issue out of the contribution, but people close to the boxing champion confirmed the monetary help extended by Pacman.


SOURCE: PEOPLE'S JOURNAL
AUTHOR: GERRY RAMOS

No stopping Pacman in training

The team responsible for getting Manny Pacquiao in shape for his coming title showdown with welterweight champion Miguel Cotto has cautioned the two American boxers set to spar with the Filipino ring icon beginning today.
Better get your bodies in perfect, boys!
Upon arriving in Baguio City where Pacquiao is currently holding training camp for his Nov. 14 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Urbano Antillon and Shawn Porter immediately climbed the ring and worked out a sweat.
Good for two of them, according to assistant trainer Roger'Flash' Fernandez.
"Pinagensayo na agad namin para hindi masakit ang bugbog nila sa sparring," said the brother of long-time Pacquiao Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez while flashing a big wide grin.
A day after taking a rest from training, Pacquiao was back to his relentless ways, working on the mitts, speedball and double-end ball, while doing shadow boxing and abdominal crunches for three straight hours.
Both Antillon and porter, along with his dad Ken, arrived in the country last Sunday, but owing to the inclement weather, did'nt travel to the City of Pines until early monday morning.
"We're ready to go," said Antillon, a regular Pacquiao sparmate everytime he has a fight.
Nonoy Neri, another Pacquiao assistant trainer, said Pacquiao is expected to spar four rounds today at the Shape Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel along Naguilan road, two rounds each with Antillon and Poter, a 2007 National Golden Gloves middleweight champion.
Neri said Pacquiao has been getting better and better as training camp in the summer hide away enters its second week.
Pacquiao as usual, is looking forward to the start of sparring session in training camp.
Informed of the arrival of Antillon and Porter, Pacquiao smiled and quipped, 'can't wait to see them.'
Sparring will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the number of rounds gradually increasing by the day until it reaches a full 12 rounds per day.
As the 12-round fight nears, sparring gradually tapers off.
As had been the practice before, head trainer Freddie Roach may hold the sparring sessions behind closed doors.


SOURCE: PEOPLE'S JOURNAL
AUTHOR: GERRY RAMOS