Arum to Pacquiao: Focus more on punching power

Revealing that Manny Pacquiao was really not properly oiled up during his last few matches, promoter Bob Arum urged the Filipino boxing champion to free himself from distraction and instead focus on his strengths this time, GMA's 24 Oras reported Friday night. "I wish that would be the case that he (Pacquiao) focuses just on his strength. In his last two fights, that was not the case. Let's be honest about that," said Arum during the open media workout at the Titanium Training Center in San Francisco, California. The report said that Arum was actually pertaining to Pacquiao's boxing matches with Mexico's Erik Morales in November 2006 and Marco Antonio Barrera in October 2007. After fighting Morales, Pacquiao still had a bout with Jorge Solis in April 2007, where the Filipino pug earned a knockout victory. While personally checking with Pacquiao in the latter's latest boxing workout in California, Arum expressed his satisfaction with the training and said that Pacquiao would be unbeatable only if he would maintain a level of consistency and momentum for the next several years. "This is what Manny Pacquiao must do in the next three or four years, continue those determination and hard work. Because if he does this, nobody will be able to beat him," Arum said. The television reports added that Pacquiao's two Mexican sparring mates - Ramon Montano and Juanito Garcia - could not seem to withstand Pacquiao's force during their sparring session. When asked if he thought the Filipino champ is already geared up for his match, a visually exhausted Montano coughed up, "Yeah. He's ready. Yeah, yeah. He's really really good." Montano will be fighting against David Diaz in the undercard match of the March 15 boxing stint. Pacquiao has been subjecting himself to a rigorous training in preparation for his March 15 rematch with World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Juan Marquez of Mexico. The Filipino boxer will attempt to snatch the title from Marquez in a match dubbed as Unfinished Business and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. - GMANews.TV