First contact
I WAS coming back from Australia, where Iโd been fighting and Iโd been back in England for a month or two. I was going to Boston to team up with Micky Ward โ I met him in the Wild Card gym a year or two later โ but I went to LA instead because Paschal Collins, the trainer, told me Freddie Roach would be the man if I wanted to learn my trade. I went to the Wild Card and asked Freddie if heโd train me. I was in the gym for six months before I met Pacquiao. For the first Juan Manuel Marquez fight they were looking for sparring partners and Freddie said, โWe want you to spar Manny.โ We did four rounds, full-on sparring.
Push the limits
AFTER that spar Manny said, โHeโs inโ and then Iโd go running with him and sparring him three days a week. Then Iโd only do two-three rounds each time because heโd have three-four sparring partners; he wants fresh guys all the time.ย Heโs one of the hardest trainers Iโve ever come across. He trains like a monster. If you can keep up with Manny Pacquiao, you know youโre a good runner, I only used to because I was inspired to be like him; he just takes off. Itโs more long distance but heโs explosive as well.
Be humble AND ruthless
HEโS inspired by people coming in and watching him, he was just Manny and stayed the same. I learnt from him to work hard and remain humble. But Iโve seen bigger fellas come in, everybody wants to take out Freddie Roach fighters, people try to make a name for themselves, and Manny would just take them out.
Experiment
THEY used to get a bamboo stick and whack him around the body with it, as it deadens the muscles in the body. I only did it once! He also has a square box and he bounces up and down on that for five-10 minutes after all his work is finished. In the ring heโs always bouncing in and out, his calves are massive and I think that box thing is one of the reasons
CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXCLUSIVE INSIDER’S VIEW OF FLOYD MAYWEATHER’S CAMP
FOR MORE ON MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO CLICK HERE
DON’T MISS THE ULTIMATE FANS’ GUIDE TO THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY