Pacquiao adjusting to weather, terrain

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Boxing great Manny Pacquiao is still adjusting to Baguio’s high altitude.

The world pound-for-pound king, on his second day of training in this highland resort city, said he’s struggling with the uphill terrain as well as the change in weather.

 “Nahirapan ako lalo na sa jogging pa-akyat (I had a difficult time running uphill),” he said.

After Monday’s first day of flat run around Burnham Lake, Pacquiao struggled inside the Sta Lucia Golf and Country Estates along Baguio’s boundary with Tuba, Benguet.

Tuesday’s regimen was a tough one, and Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, said the route could even be tougher than the ones in the United States.

“The Sta. Lucia hill is one of the hardest I’ve ever seen,” said Ariza, here to make sure that Pacquiao gets to tip-top shape for the May 7 bout against Shane Mosley.

“We are going back into basics now and getting into shape and boost his speed in training,” Ariza said after the morning workout, to be followed by an afternoon session at the Shape Up Gym of the Cooyeesan Hotel.

Pacquiao said a lot of people think it would be easy to beat Mosley, but he pointed out that the American has more experience than him.

“We need to prepare hard for him,” said Pacquiao.

The Filipino boxing superstar admitted that Mosley “is fast and a strong puncher too,” and he is getting ready, training as hard for the fight as well.