By Allan Fox: Sparring partner Haskell Rhodes (19-0, 9 KO’s) came away from his first sparring session with Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) reportedly impressed with his conditioning during a 4-round sparring session in General Santos City, in the Philippines. Rhodes, 26, has been hired to emulate WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley’s fighting style during the training camp, and he might just be the best sparring partner that Pacquiao has in the camp.

When Pacquiao returns to the United States to start the second half of his training, he’ll have former WBO light welterweight champion Kendall Holt as one of his sparring partners. However, Rhodes is arguably a tougher guy than Holt due to his hand speed, powerful left hook and straight right hand. This guy looks like he has the goods to be a very good fighter one of these days when they finally step him up against good opposition.

Pacquiao “is in better shape,” Rhodes said to GMA News. “It was good. Manny is in better shape than I thought he’d be. It was a good surprise…Just like Bradley, I have the same build and height. But I say I’m faster. We both have good movement. I do a lot of things similar to Bradley.”

I’d say that Rhodes is a better fighter than Bradley on the inside due to his speed and powerful left hook. Bradley definitely doesn’t punch like Rhodes. Bradley tends to learn forward with his head in the chest of his opponents. Rhodes is more business on the inside in throwing hooks and straight hands. He kind of reminds me a of a cross between Adrien Broner and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he puts more emphasis on loading up on his shots and throwing double and triple hooks. He’s a lot quicker than Broner.

As long as Pacquiao doesn’t run into something that he doesn’t see from Bradley in their fight on April 12th, then he should be alright in this fight. Rhodes will give Pacquiao good preparation for what he’ll be experiencing against Bradley. As long as trainer Freddie Roach makes sure that Rhodes uses a lot of movement against Pacquiao, then it should be a great camp for Manny. Rhodes tends to attack his opponents more than Bradley does, and so that’s something that they’ll need to change for Pacquiao to get the most out of his time with him as his sparring partner.