MANNY Pacquiao, the world?s no.1 pound-for-pound boxer, steps up the tempo of his training for his showdown with Britain?s Ricky Hatton when he reports to the Wild Card Gym today for the second week of his training.

Trainer Freddie Roach was off to London to supervise the final tapering off of lightweight hope Amir Khan and to direct strategy from his corner when the 22-year-old Briton battles Marco Antonio Barrera at the MEN Arena in Manchester on March 14.

Roach left the task of handling Pacquiao?s training through the week with his assistant and former world heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, himself a southpaw like Pacquiao and a great defensive fighter.

Moorer is expected to impart some useful advice to Pacquiao in revving up his defense against the noted body-punching of the International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Hatton. Both Hatton?s lead trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. and British trainer Lee Beard said their ward?s body punching will be the key to victory. 

In an effort to strengthen Pacquiao?s resistance, while at the same time enhancing his vaunted speed and explosiveness, Roach once again turned to conditioning expert Alex Ariza, who helped prepare him against World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz and Oscar de la Hoya.

 Ariza met with Roach prior to his departure and they worked out a game plan for Pacquiao in the Hatton fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

 Mayweather Sr. is scheduled to begin working with Hatton on Monday, according to Beard.

?A lot of his wins have come with shots to the body,? said Beard, underscoring the fact that ?it doesn?t take a lot for Ricky to hurt somebody.?

Beard told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that while Hatton may not be the biggest puncher in the world, ?he is a really, really heavy-handed, strong puncher.?

He said Pacquiao is bound to feel the power of his shots and Hatton will need to hit the Pacman ?once or twice before it starts to take effect.? Ronnie Nathanielsz