Pacquiao begins sparring session with Russian champ

Manny Pacquiao was all business on Thursday in his first day of sparring with Russian fighter Ruslan Provodnikov at the Shape Up boxing gym in Baguio City. Provodnikov was personally handpicked by trainer Freddie Roach because the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental light welterweight champion has the same fighting style like undefeated American Timothy Bradley Jr. Pacquiao, in a 24Oras report by Mark Zambrano, is busy preparing for his June 9 face-off with Bradley for the WBO welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Provodnikov, clearly not intimidated by Pacquiao's top pound-for-pound status, even managed to penetrate the defense of the eight-division world champion in their sparring session, which lasted for four rounds. Provodnikov pounded Pacquiao's body in the early rounds. The Sarangani congressman, after getting used to Provodnikov's defensivee strategy, peppered his sparmate with a number of combinations. The Russian champion left the four-round sparring session with a swollen right eye. "He's got great speed; it's natural speed," said Provodnikov after the sparring. Roach said he wants to see Pacquiao take the fight in the middle of the ring and avoid getting stuck in the ropes. "I'd like to see off the ropes a bit more. I want him staying there a little longer, because that will give a strong and aggressive guy like Bradley a little bit of a chance to land a big shot. And I want Manny more in the middle of the ring," said Roach. — JVP, GMA News