MANILA, Philippines – Korea’s Min Wook-Kim will be the first boxer to test Filipino ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in sparring as he gears up for his November 24 fight against the hard-hitting Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.
PNA’s Eddie Alinea reported Wednesday that Min, a light welterweight boxer, was vouched for by former world champion Gerry Peñalosa. [http://philboxing.com/news/story-87294.html]
“Parang si Rios ang kilos. Strong, quick at pasok din ng pasok,” Peñalosa said of Min, who has an 11-1-0 win-loss-draw record and stands at 5-foot-9.
“I told Manny and Freddie na pakikinabangan si Min, at least at a time when they are still scouting for a regular sparring partner,” Peñalosa told Alinea.
Alinea reported that Min will fly in from Seoul Wednesday and proceed immediately to General Santos City, where Pacquiao set up camp a week ago. The Filipino icon will work with Min until Freddie Roach arrives in the city with his regular sparring partners.
Roach is set to arrive in General Santos City in early October.
Pacquiao is starting his sparring early for this training camp, which an assistant trainer said is a testament to the boxer’s conditioning.
“Si Manny ang may gusto na mapaaga ang sparring,” said assistant trainer Nonoy Neri. “Ibig lang sabihin noon, nasa kondisyo na siya para doon. Next week, magsisimula na kami ng plyometric at isometric exercises for conditioning purposes.”
Pacquiao is trying to rebound from consecutive losses he suffered last year: a controversial split decision against Timothy Bradley Jr. in June, and a crushing knockout at the hands of Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
