MANILA, Philippines - Habang lumalapit ang petsa ng kanilang upakan ni Shane Mosley ay patindi naman nang patindi ang sparring session ni Manny Pacquiao.
Sinabi ni welterweight Rashad Holloway, isang resident sparmate ni Pacquiao, na tig-tatlong rounds ang ibinuhos ng Filipino world eight-division champion kina Karim Mayfield at Shawn Porter.
Si Mayfield ang napaulat na muntik nang mapabagsak ni Pacquiao sa isa nilang sparring session.
Sinabi ni Holloway na gusto ni trainer Freddie Roach na makipag-spar siya sa Sarangani Congressman.
“He looked pretty good. Freddie wants me to spar with him and I will give him a week at best because I have my fight to get ready,” sabi ni Holloway.
Sa kanyang huling laban noong Nobyembre, nabigo si Holloway kay Filipino Dennis Laurente via eight-round decision sa undercard ng banggaan nina Pacquiao at Antonio Margarito sa Cowboys Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.
Sinabi ni Holloway na inaasahan niyang magiging maaksyon ang salpukan ng 32-anyos na si Pacquiao sa 39-anyos na si Sugar Shane Mosley sa Mayo 7 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Manny’s at his best right now and Shane’s coming off two bad performances but sometimes that brings something special out of you. I think boxing needs a good show but all in all I think Manny comes away with it.”
Idedepensa ni Pacquiao, may 52-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title kontra kay Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs).
Samantala, gagabayan naman ni Roach si World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight king Amir Khan para sa laban nito kay Paul McCloskey ngayon sa Mangester, England.
“Who’s the quicker - Mc Closkey or Manny? I think you’d have to go with Manny on that one,” ani Khan, nakasama ni Pacquiao sa training sa Baguio City at sa Wild Card Boxing Club. Si strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, katuwang si Buboy Fernandez, ang umaagapay kay Pacquiao sa pag-eensayo.