Counter-punch will do the trick vs Oscar

LOS ANGELES - Each day at the Wild Card Gym is a new day of learning for Manny Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach.

It’s all part of a long, tedious process that only brings out the best from the Pinoy ring gladiator each time he prepares for a fight.

“He wants things done in perfection,” said Roach after another three-hour session Wednesday at the famous Hollywood sweatshop.

“When I tell him something, and he doesn’t like it, normally he wouldn’t do it,” he added as fans and wellwishers gang up on Pacquiao after the workout.

No wonder all throughout the session, both teacher and pupil kept exchanging views, and compared notes on how things ought to be done.

“I know Nacho’s style,” said Pacquiao as he dished out his own thoughts on how he could land good counter-punches against Oscar dela Hoya.

“In my analysis, the counter-punch will win this fight,” he added.

Roach, more often than not, would agree.

“Okay. Stay close, stay low. You’ve got to know what he’s up to all the time,” he said as they briefly paused after a hard combination.

Pacquiao and Roach spent 13 rounds, almost non-stop, on the mitts, focusing on body shots and mastering the short left cross that brought down David Diaz last June.

In doing so, elbows flew a couple of times, first when one grazed Pacquaio’s face, and then when another almost hit Roach on the chin.

“Elbow, elbow,” Roach blurted, then pushing Pacquiao back as they both smiled.

After the 12th round, Roach said “Okay, we’re done. I’m done.”

But Pacquiao wouldn’t let go, “Come on coach. Come on,” as he begged for another one. And he got one.

Then Pacquiao spent more rounds on the double-end bag, speed ball, shadow-boxing working his abs and taking punishment from Eric Brown’s Thai stick.

Roach said working with Pacquiao is a lot different as with Dela Hoya, whom he trained for nearly eight weeks for a fight against Floyd Mayweather last year.

“Eight weeks with Oscar we had only two good days of mitts. With Manny we have a good day everyday,” he said.

Thursday, as the Americans celebrate Thankgiving Day with their families and a great meal, will be just another day for Pacquiao at the gym.

He’s scheduled to spar for eight rounds, and Roach will have to stay in his corner.