Pacman goes easy on injured sparmate

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao held his punches back in sparring yesterday as Venezuelan lightweight Jorge Linares nursed a cut sustained in their previous session in Baguio City.

Pacquiao, according to Cebuano matchmaker Wakee Salud, had to take it easy on Linares who suffered a cut over his left eye in their sparring session a couple of days ago.

Linares is set to fight Antonio DeMarco for the vacant WBC lightweight crown on Oct. 15, and could not afford to slug it out with Pacquiao as he was supposed to.

Salud, however, said Pacquiao looked impressive in his workout at the MP Tower Gym in Manila.

“He did well considering that he still has one month to train,” said Salud.

Pacquiao was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles last night after three weeks of training in the country’s summer capital.

The next four weeks in LA will be tough with a fresh batch of sparring partners lined up by chief trainer Freddie Roach for Pacquiao.

A small send-off party was set at the Pan Pacific Hotel and from there Pacquiao was to host his popular game show “Manny Many Prizes.”

Then it’s off to the airport for the 10 p.m. flight to Los Angeles.

“I am excited with my match (against Marquez). I am nearing my level of strength and speed,” Pacquiao told the mediamen in Baguio the other day.

The 32-year-old pound-for-pound champion will stake his WBO welterweight crown against Mexican foe Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is taking the fight seriously because it’s the fight that should end all doubts surrounding his first two encounters with Marquez.

The first one, which happened in 2004, ended in a controversial draw, and the rematch, which took place in 2008, has Pacquiao winning by the slimmest of margins.

“All the questions will be answered in this fight. That’s why I’m making sure I will be in my best shape for the fight,” said Pacquiao.