As rumored sparring partners go, Manny Pacquiao could do a lot worse.
GMA News Online is reporting via an unnamed source that the Filipino superstar -- who'll face pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 -- has plucked another of the world's consensus top-five fighters to get ready for his meeting with the sport's top man at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The GMA News source claimed unified WBA/WBO 122-pound champion Guillermo Rigondeaux has been sparring with Pacquiao at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, under the watchful eyes of Freddie Roach -- who trains Pacquiao now and has worked with Rigondeaux in the past.
A CBSSports.com source, however, said there had been "no Rigondeaux sightings in camp with Manny" through Friday.
Nevertheless, Mayweather is No. 1 in Ring magazine's pound-for-pound rankings, while Pacquiao is No. 3. Rigondeaux, who's unbeaten in 15 career fights, occupies slot No. 5.
The GMA News source claimed Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Cuba, took part in a sparring session in full headgear, while Pacquiao went without. The Cuban has 10 knockouts in his 15 victories and is considered, as is Mayweather, one of the premier defensive fighters in the sport.
source: CBS Sports