Paquiao Trains Hard

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao generously gave away Thanksgiving turkeys earlier this week.

On America's most important holiday, Freddie Roach won't be too considerate of his ward.

Roach stressed on Wednesday that he and Manny Pacquiao will continue to train on Thursday. The venerable trainer has set up a sparring session for his prized boxer worth eight rounds.

"Business goes on as scheduled," Roach said. "No holiday for us."

Thanksgiving Day is an American national holiday observed on every fourth Thursday of November. English settlers who came to America in the early 17th century called their arrival a "day of thanksgiving".

Pacquiao has a lot to thank Roach for since he arrived at Roach's Wild Card Gym seven years ago in 2001.

Looking for a coach, Pacquiao chose Roach because he called the trainer of champions somebody who "improved his fighting style, not change it."

With 10 days left before his highly anticipated slugfest with Oscar de la Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Hotel in Las Vegas, Pacquiao is already wrapping up his LA training camp which lasted for about two months.

After Friday, Pacquiao will spar for six rounds on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) and then four more on Monday morning before driving off to Las Vegas later the same afternoon.

After working out on Thursday, Pacquiao will celebrate the holiday at his Palazzo apartment along with wife Jinky, close friends and relatives, where turkey, the staple food of Thanksgiving, will be served.