Manny steps up training sans Roach

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao can always get away with a few more rounds when Freddie Roach is not around.

The other day at the Wild Card Gym, what was supposed to be short, nice and easy four rounds of mitts with Buboy Fernandez turned out to be an almost non-stop 10-round session.

Roach is in England to be in the corner of his other protégé, Amir Khan, who takes on Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on March 14 at the MEN Center.

Roach has been away for almost a week now, and when he returns to his Hollywood gym on Monday Pacquiao should be ready to begin sparring for his May 2 bout with Ricky Hatton.

With Roach out, Pacquiao called the shots.

“It was supposed to be only four rounds,” Fernandez told LA-based orthodontist Ed dela Vega of the mitts session with the reigning pound-for-pound champion.

“Then it went six rounds. But Manny wanted more so we ended up doing 10 rounds. But I did not complain because it was nice to see Manny build up his routine,” said Fernandez.

Pacquiao has the reputation of always asking for more during training. He just won’t stop until he is ordered to, and Roach said that’s his only problem with the Pinoy icon.

“He just won’t stop and keeps asking for more. But I always had to hold him back because I didn’t want him to get bored. I want him to stay hungry,” Roach would say.

Pacquiao then cited Fernandez for his great improvement.

“He has come a long way from the day I took him out of Gen. Santos City to start a career as a boxing trainer. And he’s also gone better in analyzing the moves of my opponents,” said Pacquiao.