Pacquiao gets down to serious business
By Ian Brion
Correspondent

The distractions are half a world away. For Manny Pacquiao, getting down to business should be easier.
       In the latest update on the Filipino champ’s training for his local showdown with Oscar Larios on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum, Freddie Roach disclosed that Pacquiao is well on his way to regaining his top form.
       “We had our second day of sparring today, Manny went four hard rounds, and I was happy with how Manny looked,” Roach said in an interview with boxingtalk.com yesterday. “Manny looked explosive when he wanted to. So far so good, I am really happy with him so far.”
       Roach has scrapped Pacquiao’s plan for him to train in the Philippines because the former Trainer of the Year believed the country threatened to distract Pacquiao from serious training.
       Pacquiao initially gave second thoughts about going to the US, but eventually acquiesced to Roach’s orders.
       Now Roach, considered the man responsible for molding Pacquiao into a world-class fighter, is giving Pacquiao high marks.
       “Manny started his roadwork in the mornings, and he’s doing well,” Roach added. “I didn’t expect his timing to be as good as it is this early on. We start the hills tomorrow, and we’ll pick it up then, and push him. On Friday we move from four rounds to six rounds of sparring.”
       After his epic victory over renowned Mexican fighter Erik Morales last January, Pacquiao had actually shied away from the gym, busying himself with other nonring activities.
       That did not suit well for Roach, who warned not to take for granted Larios, a former world champion on the super-bantamweight ranks.
       The way Pacquiao has responded to Roach’s prodding—as he usually has when he’s scheduled to be in a major card—the Filipino southpaw is on his way to achieving top form when July 2 comes around.
       “When it comes down to training for a fight, nobody does it better than Manny,” said Roach. “I was a little bit worried on the first day, but once Manny got back into the gym, he was the old Manny Pacquiao immediately. Manny is 100 percent with everything he does.
       “I am really happy where Manny is right now, and I will tell you this much, Oscar better be ready for this one.”