Philippine Sports News and Updates

Will Manny Pacquiao spar today after being knocked down by the flu virus the last couple of days?

The answer, according to his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, will be known only after the Pinoy boxing sensation completes his morning jog today at the Alta Vista golf course in Cebu.

“We will know after he runs whether or not he will do some sparring in the afternoon. I will have to see how he does in the morning before I make the decision,” said Roach.

Pacquiao, who’s been training in Cebu for the last three weeks, skipped sparring last Friday due to the flu, and stayed in his hotel suite with wife Jinkee and baby girl Princess last Saturday.

Yesterday morning, Pacquiao felt a lot better and spent some minutes on the basketball court, playing with Cebuano sportswriters, and some members of Team Pacquiao.

Playing basketball only means that Pacquiao is ready to go back to the gym barely a month left before his Oct. 6 rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas.

But if you ask Roach, the noted American trainer would rather see Pacquiao resting on Sundays instead of playing basketball where he risks suffering an injury.

A minor sprain could mean a lot heading toward a big match.

Roach said he talked to Pacquiao yesterday, and told him to stay away from the basketball court, and instead focus entirely on his training that shifts to Los Angeles on Sept. 22.

Source: Philippine Star