Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39) hasn’t missed a beat since arriving in Los Angeles this week to go into full camp ahead of his all-southpaw clash against WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 27-0 (21) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21.
The 42-year-old Pacquiao sparred two rounds apiece with lanky lefties Maurice Lee 12-1-2 (5) and Alexis Rocha 17-1 (11) at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Thursday.
Pacquiao, who is coming off a 12-round majority decision victory over formerly undefeated American Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman 29-1 (22) two years ago, is a sizeable underdog against Texan Spence, 31.
He won his first world championship at flyweight a remarkable 23 years ago while still a teenager and has since claimed world honours in seven additional weight classes.
“Manny lives for the challenge and the competition. Manny loves hearing that the Las Vegas odds and the media favour Errol Spence,” said Roach.
“Manny knows it’s a tough fight – probably his toughest – but that’s why he began his conditioning so early in the Philippines.
“Usually, jetlag keeps him out of the gym for one day the first week he arrives in Los Angeles. Not this time. He has been here every day, training two-and-a-half to three hours each afternoon.
“I usually hold off sparring the first week, but Manny insisted on sparring yesterday, so we brought in Maurice Lee (5’11) and Alexis Rocha (5’10), who went two rounds each with Manny.
“Manny has achieved so much in his boxing career and in his life. But everyone in camp can sense this fight has a special meaning. It is not just about beating a top pound-for-pound fighter or winning more titles. This time it’s all about boxing immortality for Manny Pacquiao.
“I am a Red Sox fan, and I can tell he wants to go out like Ted Williams did, hitting a home run in his last at bat. By the way, Ted Williams was also 42 when he did that.”
The 29-year-old Lee, who hails from Woodland Hills, California and goes by the nickname ‘Ambitious’, said he learnt a lot from the six minutes of sparring.
“What a great experience,” said Lee. “I thought since he had just flown in from the Philippines, he would be a little tired and I could catch him with a few shots. But he was sharp, elusive and unpredictable.
“Videotape does not prepare you for his speed and the angles he fights from. His punches were coming from everywhere! Calling him elite would be an understatement.”
Rocha, 24, from Irvine, California added: “Sparring with Manny was definitely a learning experience.
“Manny has a very awkward style to fight because his punches come from all directions. He has fast and heavy hands and he throws punches in bunches.”
