Locked and loaded: Pacquiao flies to KL
GENERAL SANTOS CITY: A retooled eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao flies with his team for Kuala Lumpur today confident of reclaiming his place in the elite list of belt-owners he lost just a year ago.
“Manny prepared long and hard for this fight and he’s ready to prove he still belongs to that list of world champions, “ chief trainer Buboy Fernandez and Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune chorused after overseeing the 39-year-old Philippine senator ended nearly two months of build-up program on Saturday.
Manny Pacquiao and members of his training and security team including Pacman the dog cool down after a rigorous morning workout at the Acharon Sports Complex in General Santos City. PHOTO BY WENDELL ALINEA/MP PROMOTIONS
“Boxing fans all over the world will see a young Manny Pacquiao this time, throwing a lot of punches, more footwork, head movements and all he’s been showing before when he was acclaimed the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Fortune said by way of assessing what Pacquiao achieved in the training that started early May in Manila.
“He’s 100 percent ready,” Fernandez, who has been elevated as chief in lieu of American Hall of Famer Freddie Roach for this fight, assured. “Mahaba ang panahon ng camp, but short at precise ang time ng training and we covered everything that is to be covered. No less.”
Pacquiao is challenging World Boxing Association welterweight crown-holder Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse of Argentina for the latter’s title exactly a week from now on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“We’ve watched and studied almost all of Matthysse’s previous fight, especially those he lost and found his weaknesses and assets, set our game plan based on those kaya masasabi ko safely na di kami nagkulang sa programang inilatag namin,” Buboy further explained.
“Yeah, we’ve laid everything out, plans B, C, everything and Manny’s been studying them all in earnest, executing in training. We couldn’t ask for more,” Fortune butted in.
Even younger brother Bobby, a former world lightweight contender, was ecstatic with the gains accomplished by his older sibling from the training program.
“Mas maganda ang resulta ng training ni Manny ngayon kesa dati,” Bobby said. “Mabilis siya ngayon, malakas at maganda ang mga suntok na binibitiwan. Crispy at may kalidad.”
Pacquiao put a close to his two-month camp with a five-round sparring (two with Philippine junior-welterweight champion Jerich Chavez and three with speedy Australian lighweight George Kambosos Jr. on Saturday at the Pacman Wild card Gym here.
He completed the day’s light 20-round job on the heavy bag, double end ball, speedball, skipping rope, shadow boxing and floor exercises.
All in all, according to assistant trainers Roger “Haplas” Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, Pacquiao has completed no less than 100 rounds of sparring against as many as four dancing mates at one time, and 130 rounds punching the pad.
Pacquiao was scheduled to work in the mitts with Buboy Monday morning before his party of 200 boards a chartered flight for Kuala Lumpur.
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