Pacquiao back in the gym

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquio marked his first day at the gym yesterday, breaking sweat under the watchful eyes of Buboy Fernandez 10 weeks ahead of his WBA welterweight title clash against Lucas Matthysse.

Pacquiao trained at his own Wild Card Gym in General Santos City, with very few onlookers.

Training is expected to heat up in the coming days and weeks as Pacquiao, who will turn 40 in December, seeks to become world champion anew.

He has not fought since July last year, since losing his WBO crown to Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia.

The fight with Matthysse will take place on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“First day of training was great. He worked on getting loose and warmed up before going hard in the next few weeks,” said David Sisson of Team Pacquiao.

The Pacquiao fight will be the first of its magnitude to be staged in the Malaysian capital since Muhammad Ali fought Joe Bugner in July 1975 at the Stadium Merdeka, 43 years ago.

This time, the boxing match featuring the greatest Asian fighter in history will take place at the modern Axiata Arena.

Matthysse, four years younger but hungrier, will train in Indio, California, under Joel Diaz, who once handled Tim Bradley as he prepared for a fight against Pacquiao.