Pacquiao stuns sparmate
The world's number one pound-for-pound boxer Manny Pacquiao has stunned sparmate Ray Beltran Jr., with his "lightning bolt" speed that he described the Filipino boxing sensation as better than the last time they met.
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The eight division world champion Pacquiao is currently training for his May 7 mega bout against former three-time world champion Shane Mosley.
Beltran who first sparred with the boxer-congressman in 2004 said the punches hit him "like lightning bolts shooting down my body." He called Pacquiao a complete boxer and is now "technically better in the ring and very unpredictable."
The 30-year-old Beltran, who totes a 23-4 record with 15 knockouts, has spared more rounds with Pacquiao, named as the Fighter of the Decade than any other boxers in the world.
Beltran changed punches with Pacquiao when he trained for his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, and in his fights against Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito and now Mosley.
According to Beltran, Pacquiao used to dominate and surprise his opponents with his speed and courage, now Shane is up for "much more." He described Pacquiao's punches as coming as a blur and from all angles, with radar-like accuracy and more power. Most importantly, the punches hurt, he said.
Beltran predicts a Pacquiao win against Pacquiao when they traded punches in the ring on May 7. But he rules out a knockout saying Mosly is also ring savvy and might just try to survive the fight.
Saying that his prized fighter is training so much, chief trainer Freddie Roach has ordered Pacquiao to rest on Sunday and allowed him to only hear Mass at the Christ the King Parish.
Roach said, "I told him to get a full day off tomorrow. Just get one good rest day before the fight. Of course, you'll never know with Manny," adding that he is used to Pacquiao ignoring his orders and still doing his regular early morning jogging.