Pacquiao Foe Steps Up Training

MANILA, Philippines — As Manny Pacquiao steps up his high-altitude training in Baguio City, Tim Bradley’s own buildup is starting to heat up in the desert city of Indio, California.

“Bradley is training like an animal,” reported Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum Friday from Los Angeles, 127 miles (204 kilometers) from Indio.

Last Thursday, Pacquiao started a crucial phase of his preparation by sparring with the rugged slugger Ruslan Provodnikov, who looked like a Russian bear tangling with a gray wolf (Pacquiao).

At the end of the four-round session, the bear sustained a welt underneath his right eye, while the wily wolf emerged almost unscathed and grinning from ear to ear.

“He (Pacquiao) is very fast,” said Provodnikov, handpicked by trainer Freddie Roach owing to his size and all-out fighting style.

Bradley is a 3-1 underdog in his quest to topple the Filipino pound-for-pound king from his lofty perch on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But the unbeaten 28-year-old Bradley is unfazed, saying he has what it takes to shock the world.

Pacquiao and Bradley almost began their preparation at the same time and have vowed to put on sensational showings come fight night.

While Bradley is remaining in Indio until a week before the fight, Pacquiao is uprooting his training camp this coming week and setting shop at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles beginning May 7.

A fresher batch of sparring partners are keenly awaiting for his arrival, said Roach, who has been very satisfied with the first week of training in Baguio and the outcome of the sparring session.

source: mb.com.ph

Rampage Jackson as B. A. Barracus in 'The A-Team'

MANILA, Philippines – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion turned Hollywood actor, recently visited the training camp of boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in Baguio City.

The short visit, during which the two talked and shared a meal, was detailed via a report on GMA News.

The report said that Jackson, who played the role of B. A. Barracus in the 2010 hit movie, “The A- Team,” was all praises for Pacquiao, lauding the latter for his fighting skills.

In a subsequent interview on “Unang Hirit,” Pacquiao said he was delighted that Jackson exerted effort to call on him if only too briefly.

“Masaya tayo, dahil nagpunta pa siya rito para lang kamustahin tayo,” he said.

It was the first meeting between the two fighters, both of whom are being coached by trainer, Freddie Roach.

In the same interview, Pacquiao denounced reports that he sacked his long-time conditioning coach Alex Ariza; this, supposedly for feuding with his personal adviser Michael Koncz and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. The rumor exploded over the weekend when Atriza was seen departing for Manila from Baguio City.

According to Pacquiao, there is no truth to the rumor.

“Wala, wala. Maraming lang inggit siguro and I pray for them,” he said.

Seemingly eager to douse further speculation, Pacquiao intimated that they even tendered a surprise party for Ariza very recently.

Ariza has been part of Pacquiao’s camp since 2008, when the pride of Saranggani tapped the former’s expertise in his fight with boxer David Diaz.

source: mb.com.ph

SM Supermalls denies cutting trees in Baguio

Amid continuing protests for supposedly cutting trees at its property in Baguio City, SM Supermalls on Thursday said what it did was uproot the pine trees using the balling out method and planted them in a different location.

In a statement, SM Supermalls claimed it "… utilized recommended specialists for this activity who will replant them in designated areas within the SM property."

The practice follows globally accepted standards for green development that creates new employment opportunities, as well as business and tourism in the city, known as the country’s Summer Capital, the operator of SM malls claimed.

An offshoot of this redevelopment plan, the company said, include:

A new parking facility that will provide alternatives to street parking and, hopefully, help decongest traffic on the streets around the facility.

A roof garden with trees and shrubs to cover the building footprint.

A rainwater collection system to help control water runoff in and around the property, while providing a secondary water source for the facility’s needs.

SM Supermalls said it decided to plant 50 saplings for every tree that would be uprooted, or 30 more saplings than the initial agreement with authorities.

"As a responsible mall developer, we shall continue to inform the public of our plans to help safeguard and improve life in the city by supporting the need to plant more trees, promote improved engineering and safety standards, help in traffic and vehicle management, and make better use of Baguio’s abundant rainfall," SM Supermalls said.

The Baguio City Regional Trial Court last Tuesday issued a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) against the removal of 182 pine and alnus trees for the expansion of SM City Baguio.

The TEPO was issued after the National Union of People's Lawyers filed an urgent motion to stop SM City Baguio's plan to clear the area before constructing a parking lot and an entertainment plaza. —Amanda Fernandez/VS, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com