PACMAN SHOULD TRAIN MORE SERIOUSLY

“Boxing training is different from conditioning training, where sometimes a fighter thinks that because he trains hard inside the gym, the conditioning is going to piggyback on the things that he does… In the fights against Marquez III and Mosley, Pacquiao had leg cramps, but when he trained the Ariza way, he had no leg cramps against Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and Clottey,”

PACMAN SHOULD TRAIN MORE SERIOUSLY

by Ronnie Nathanielsz

POUND-FOR-POUND king Manny Pacquiao was obviously disappointed with his majority decision win over World Boxing Organization/World Boxing Association lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday and wants the Mexican one more time.

“Manny was not happy with his performance either,” strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza told Manila Standard after talking with the WBO welterweight champion Monday afternoon.
“It was obviously a really bad night. I want another one (fight with Marquez),” Ariza quoted Pacquiao as saying.

Ariza then told Pacquiao: “Let’s do it my way and see what happens.”

Back to basics

The conditioning guru wants Pacquiao to go back to the basics in his physical regimen.
“We have to get back to what we did in the days when we were successful and we didn’t have any leg problems (cramps) and things like that,” Ariza suggested to the Filipino champion.
The strength coach recalled their success in the fights against David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto when Pacquiao stuck to Ariza’s tough conditioning regimen.
When asked about the cramps suffered by Pacquiao Sunday, Ariza instead compared the Pacman’s previous conditioning regimen with the ones he used recently against Shane Mosley and Marquez.

“In the fights against Marquez III and Mosley, Pacquiao had leg cramps, but when he trained the Ariza way, he had no leg cramps against Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and Clottey,” the conditioning coach pointed out.

No excuses

He added: “I don’t want to make excuses about leg cramps, but our fights are getting worse. We are starting to go in reverse. Unless we get back to what we did in the beginning, I don’t see how we are going to progress.”

Ariza revealed that the Filipino icon was not doing it his (Ariza’s) way at all for Marquez III.
“Boxing training is different from conditioning training, where sometimes a fighter thinks that because he trains hard inside the gym, the conditioning is going to piggyback on the things that he does. Pacquiao looked good, but his body didn’t cooperate with him again last night. His balance was off, he looked very ordinary, nothing special. He was exposed,” Ariza said.
The conditioning guru was therefore pleased that Pacquiao agreed to go back to the old ways.

Ariza’s way

“Pacquiao told me next time, we are going to do everything my way. I know my way is very hard, it’s very taxing, it’s very uncomfortable, but there is a reason for it. Nobody likes to do the conditioning, but that’s what’s pushing us through, that’s what is making Manny look good,” said Ariza, who added that if he were Floyd Mayweather Jr. and he saw the Pacman’s performance, “I would sign for a Pacquiao fight this morning.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who was roundly booed by the Mexican fans, who accused him of stealing the fight from Marquez, said that a fourth fight between Pacquiao and the Mexican is a possibility.

“Not only was this fight not definitive, very few rounds were definitive. If the fighters are willing, we’ll do it again,” said Arum, who may have trouble convincing Marquez to fight Pacquiao for a fourth time and even money may not entice the Mexican legend to take on the challenge.
In fact, Marquez said he is contemplating retirement and was certain that even if he beats Pacquiao, the judges won’t give him the decision.

Sulaiman disappointed

Meanwhile, World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman, one of the admirers of Pacquiao, said he was “very disappointed” with the Pacman’s performance and that Marquez “didn’t lose the fight.”

“Pacquiao went eight rounds walking forward, but clearly cautiously, throwing one punch here, one punch there. He spent eight rounds without any passion, no heart,” he said. “I believe in Pacquiao. I believe he is one of the very best today, he is much better than he was seven years ago at a weight that he’s very strong. I said that before the fight so I was embarrassed with the result.”