Team Pacman puts accent on endurance

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao, who’d gone 12 hard rounds in each of his last three fights, is making sure he’ll have enough steam against Shane Mosley.

As he trains up in Baguio for the May 7 fight at the fabled MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the 32-year-old Filipino superstar is putting premium on endurance.

“We’re trying to build up his endurance,” said Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Alex Ariza after yesterday’s morning workout at the Sta. Lucia Golf and Country Estate.

“That will be a big factor during the fight,” added Ariza, who’s been around Pacquiao, making sure he’s at his best for each fight, since the David Diaz fight in 2008.

Pacquiao has won his last 13 fights, eight of them by stoppage. But there’ve been tough ones as well, fights where he could have given in if not for his excellent condition.

There was his 12-round battle with Juan Manuel Marquez, and most recently the ones against bigger, heavier guys like Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito.

Pacquiao said his fight with Margarito, who fought like a heavyweight last November at the Cowboys Stadium, was the toughest of all.

He said the huge difference in size made it very difficult for him to put the Mexican down. Pacquiao also took some big shots against Margarito and felt them days after the fight.

Ariza said they cannot take Mosley lightly because at 39 pushing 40, the pride of Pomona in California, who’s never been knocked out before, still has the speed of a 30-year-old.

Mosley also showed he’s still got the power, knocking out Margarito in 2009 when Pacquiao can’t, and the ability to hurt an opponent with one punch, the way he did against Floyd Mayweather last year.

“We’re preparing for the Mosley that defeated Margarito,” said Ariza.

“We’re expecting him to be at his best.”

No wonder Ariza, the strength and conditioning guru from Colombia, is making sure Pacquiao is doing everything that’s needed in training.