WEIGHTS ADD EXPLOSIVENESS NOT MUSCLE MASS!

By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com






San Francisco, CA—WBC Lightweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao, is less than two months away from the biggest challenge in his illustrious boxing career, taking on former Middleweight titlist, Oscar De La Hoya. In the past, Pacquiao has been known to lack focus against certain types of opponents. That is far from the case for this fight. Not only has Pacquiao arrived at training camp a couple before his normal 8-week training grind, but also he has implemented new training techniques in preparation for this unique challenge.

Starting with his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera back in October 2007, Pacquiao has struggled to make weight the limits for his fights. Even in his last fight against David Diaz last June, Pacquiao still had to sweat out 2 pounds to make the 135lbs weight limit the day before the weigh-in. However, for this fight, it will be highly unlikely that Manny will struggle to make 147lbs, the highest weight limit Pacquiao will attempt to make ever.

Originally, trainer Freddie Roach planned to have Manny weigh in at 142lbs the day before the fight and come into the ring at 146lbs. However, Freddie has switched up the game plan and will instead have Manny maintain the 147lbs limit throughout training camp, the weigh-in, and the night of the fight. This is definitely a luxury that 99% of today’s fighters would love to have.

Because Manny will not reduce weight below 147lbs, new strength and conditioning techniques will be implemented to take advantage of Manny not having to be on a weight reduction diet. In charged of this task is Alex Ariza, Manny’s strength and conditioning coach, who joined the team last June to prepare for the David Diaz fight.

One of the new techniques Pacquiao has been using is weight training. According to Pacman Enforcer, Rob Peters, who watches every Pacquiao training session, the weights are very light and is scientifically based that will enhance Manny’s explosiveness to a large degree. The weights training is not meant to add muscle mass in order for Pacquiao to fill into 147lbs. Also, the weights are not used everyday and Ariza likes to switch up the exercises so Manny doesn’t get complacent on any one routine.

In a sport like boxing, with a long history and tradition, weight training has been part of a new wave of training methods for today’s athletes. However, heavy lifting by boxers has hardly produced any positive results. Fighters who are built like steel statues usually do not have the same success as fighters who have traditional training methods.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see how these routines and training methods will enhance Pacquiao’s skills. Pacquiao also likes to play basketball to build up endurance and to keep active during off days. After a long cross country promotional tour, Pacquiao played 3 hours of full court basketball in San Francisco.

Top photo: Pacquiao (L) with conditioning coach Alex Ariza at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.