By James Slater – As fight fans probably know, WBA 140-pound champ Amir Khan flew out to the Philippines this week, so as to train alongside pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Both men are working hard getting ready for their upcoming fights – Pac-Man’s next outing to be against the naturally bigger Antonio Margarito, Khan’s against the power-punching Marcos Maidana.
And, as has been reported by Inside Sports, Pac-Man is currently in superb shape; much further on in his training than is Khan. This fact was almost comically illustrated Friday, when the two good friends went out to do a spot of high-intensity roadwork..
Pac-Man, pushing himself hard, set out running uphill for a straight 45-minutes – leaving 23-year-old Khan, a man nine years his junior, unable to keep up! Reportedly, Khan couldn’t keep up with Pacquiao, and took the option of climbing into a car three-quarters of the way, resuming his running only when more flat ground presented itself.
Michael Koncz, advisor to Pac-Man said this was understandable on the part of Khan seeing as how this was Amir’s first day of training. It just goes to show, though, how incredibly driven Pacquiao is – and how amazingly well conditioned he is also.
Pac-Man will begin track running on Monday (it’s unknown if Khan will be joining him!) and the pound-for-pound southpaw has also been devouring protein shakes. It seems Manny is having no ill effects due to the bad cold he was suffering from a short time ago. Of course, Antonio Margarito will no doubt be working just as hard in his own training camp, but is there any fighter with as much stamina as Pac-Man? Now we know how he gets his gas tank so full. 45-straight minutes of running up a steep hill? Khan found out firsthand just how tough that is.
Also of interest, is the fact that it looks extremely doubtful Julio Cesar Chavez will be coming over to spar with Pac-Man, as was the original plan. Inside Sports reports that Chavez Junior, in training for his own fight, against fellow Mexican Alfonso Gomez, has been “having problems” with his Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran. With Pacquiao’s plan being to head to Los Angeles on October 23rd to begin sparring there (at Freddie Roach’s famous Wild Card gym), it would be “a waste of expense bringing any anymore sparring partners (to the Philippines).”
So, Pac-Man – and Khan as well, come to that – may spar with Chavez Junior soon; just not in the Philippines. Expect all three fighters to be in supreme condition for their upcoming, exciting-looking fights.