Pacman kicks off Baguio training

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Manny Pacquiao kicked off his high-altitude training with a solid run in and around the famous Burnham Park here yesterday.

The world’s best boxer today showed no ill effects of a slight injury on his left foot, sustained in Friday’s workout at the Elorde Gym in Quezon City, as he ran faster than anyone else around.

Not even a seasoned marathoner, Philip Pacle, who is preparing for a forthcoming race, could keep up with the 31-year-old fighting congressman who showed up at the park at around 6:30 a.m.

Pacquiao, as expected, attracted all the attention from the early morning crowd. But his fans knew he needed no distractions, and kept to themselves, just watching from a distance as the boxer worked out.

“He’s really fast,” said the marathoner.

It was the first day of workout for Pacquiao in Baguio City, which is located 1,500 meters above sea level, and nestled within the Cordillera mountain range. It has a lot of hilly, uneven terrains that suit Pacquiao’s needs.

“So early in the camp, we already did 10 rounds,” said noted trainer Freddie Roach. “We will be 90 percent done when we leave for the US.”

Pacquiao arrived here late Sunday afternoon after more than a week of training in Quezon City. Last Friday he was taken to the hospital due to pain on the sole of his left foot, later attributed to some pull during training.

“There’s some swelling but I’m under medication now,” said Pacquiao who will do his regular two-hour gym training at Shape Up along Naguillan Road.

The gym is located on the second floor of the Cooyesan Plaza Hotel which serves as Pacquiao’s homebase here in Baguio. It is the same gym, small but neat, he used as he trained for Miguel Cotto last year.

“I’m happy with my first day of training here in Baguio,” said Pacquiao, a congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani. He is now on leave until he gets done with his next fight.

Pacquiao did six rounds of the Burnham Park, and for most of the time he was all by himself because there’s just no one who could match his pace. With him as he trained were Alex Ariza, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri.

“So far, so good. The weather was fine,” said Pacquiao, noting the sudden change in temperature, from hot and humid Manila to cold Baguio, ranging from 16 to 25 degrees Celsius.

As he wrapped up his road work, Pacquiao, who hails from Mindanao, cracked jokes for his fans, and even spoke in Ilocano, a native dialect from the country’s northernmost provinces.

Based on schedule, Pacquiao will begin sparring today with Mexican Michael Medina even if his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, had earlier said he might push the start of sparring to Thursday.

But Pacquiao wants to get going, and may insist that sparring begins today. Another Mexican, Glen Tapia, is with Team Pacquiao now, and a couple more, including Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. may come in soon.

“After one week, I will face a heavier training because another one hour will be added per day,” said Pacquiao who’s looking at around 150 rounds of sparring for his WBC super-welterweight clash with Margarito.

Roach said they might stay in Baguio until Oct. 20, then proceed to Los Angeles for another two weeks of training at the Wild Card Gym, before flying to Dallas for he final week heading to the fight.