"I'm here in Baguiao now...Last I heard, which was today, Manny's supposed to be here on Friday...he can't box and move backwards and win the fight. If Bradley is coming to win, he's going to have to take a risk. He's going to have to try and go after him and try to hurt him. He's going to have to do something," stated world-class strength & conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who gave us an update from training camp in the Philippines where he's working with former jr. welterweight champion Amir Khan and welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao for their upcoming bouts. Check out what else he had to say!
BT: Alex, what's good bro? Just hittin' you up to get a quick update from camp. It looks like you guys have moved locations.
AA: Yeah, I'm here in Baguiao now. Obviously not the same accomodations as a 5-star hotel, but it is what it is. This is a hotel that got turned into a university for foreign students to come and learn English and international business, so we're actually staying in a dorm.
BT: I know you guys haven't started getting Manny ready yet, but when do you think that will kick off?
AA: Last I heard, which was today, Manny's supposed to be here on Friday.
BT: What kind of fight are you guys expecting from Bradley? Do you think he's going to be coming forward applying pressure or do you think he'll try to sit back and counter like Marquez?
AA: Well, he knows he can't box and move backwards and win the fight. If Bradley is coming to win, he's going to have to take a risk. He's going to have to try and go after him and try to hurt him. He's going to have to do something.
BT: I saw Julio already started his camp too. Are you communicating with him while you're in the Philippines.
AA: Yeah, I spoke with his father just the other night, just to reassure them that I'll be there when I get done here.
BT: Cool. How's everything going with Amir?
AA: Amir's looking really good, man. It's a little bit easier here. Even though the weather's cool here, it's a little bit tougher because of the altitude, so it took a few days just get to used to that. During the day here, it's hot, but in the morning, it's really bareable because, you know, the sun's not out yet and it's not that warm. I'm putting myself on my own program and diet too. I gained so much weight in Manila.
BT: Oh yeah? I'm gonna have to put myself on it too. What are you going to be doing?
AA: Well, yesterday, I did a little circut just to get broken in. Your body doesn't get so tired here, but it's your lungs that start to fuckin' burn because the air really, really thin up here. So I just took it easy in the morning yesterday, but today, I went and I did some boxing. I did 5 rounds, hit the double-end bag, did some rope, you know, just trying to build up some wind, but I was fucking hurting. So then what I do is I just kind of tweet little shit that I'm eating throughout the day. Tonight, I'll go in and do like a lifting circuit with weight and stuff like that, and then try to follow this diet that I'm on out there and see what kind of changes that I can make in the next 2 or 3 weeks. Just follow my tweets; I'll tweet it every day.
BT: For sure, man. Well like I said, I just wanted to catch up real quick. I'll get more updates from you as the days go by.
AA: Yeah, we'll catch up tomorrow.
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