Highly motivated Pacquiao opens training camp
Credit to Author: EDDIE G. ALINEA| Date: Sun, 26 May 2019 16:15:45 +0000
When future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao climbs the ring against undefeated American Keith Thurman on July 20 for the 71st time in his 24-year prizefighting career, he will be extra motivated with the golden memory of his triumphant encounter with similarly legendary Oscar De La Hoya 11 years ago.
He was only 29 years old then and although already the leading pound-for-pound king, the soon-to-be Filipino eight-division champion was the 2-1 underdog against the more illustrious Mexican Olympian De La Hoya, a former WBO Junior lightweight, WBO/IBF super-lightweight and two-time super-welterweight and WBO middleweight titlist.
It was his first ever fight as a welterweight and had already been crowned five-division belt-winner having captured the flyweight, super-featherweight, featherweight, and lightweight plums earlier in his career.
The now 40-year-old Philippine senator expressed that sentiment during the first stop of the two-city press tour on Monday last week to promote the showdown in New York, when he declared: ”For this fight, I will work hard. I haven’t felt this motivated and excited since the Oscar De La Hoya fight. I feel like I’m back against the best fighters in the world.”
In his first appearance in the gym to start preparations for the July fight set at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, on Saturday, Pacquiao looked to carry with him the memory of that 8th round stoppage of the Barcelona Olympics gold medallist De La Hoya as he regaled a less than 100 spectators at the Elorde Boxing Gym inside the Mall of Asia compound of what the fans expect.
Despite the long four-month respite since beating ambitious, but outclassed Adrien Broner last January, the former Fighter of the Decade honoree showed speed and footwork he hopes to apply in avoiding Thurman’s offense comes fight night.
“Alam mo na naman ang focus natin in every fight — hand speed and footwork na magiging advantage natin sa laban, “Pacquiao told this writer after a short three-hour session. “We’re going to work on those against what I expect will be an aggressive Thurman’s offense.”
“I like being the underdog for this fight because that gives me more focus in training. I’ve been careless and over-confident in some fights, but this time around it’s different. Keith Thurman is a good fighter and we’re going to make sure the fans are happy on July 20,” he stressed.
Chief trainer Buboy Fernandez wasn’t around yet to supervise the opening day of the camp as he was still in Bicol to attend Monday’s proclamation of provincial winners in the last midterm elections where he was voted vice mayor of his hometown Polangui.
Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune was scheduled to arrive last Sunday from Los Angeles, while training consultant Freddie Roach will just be waiting for the team’s arrival in LA tentatively on June 15.
In their absence, assistant trainers Nonoy Neri and Roger “Haplas” Fernandez stepped in to preside over the session. The reigning WBA regular 147-pound kingpin did six rounds hitting the mitts with Neri and three rounds shadow boxing.
He, too, spent a round each with the heavy bag, speed ball and skipping rope under the watchful eyes of Haplas before winding up the day with the routine floor exercises.
“We’ll fly straight to L.A. on June 15. Marami pang trabaho sa senado na dapat tapusin before we leave for the US,” Pacquiao said by way of explaining the dispensing with pitching camp in his hometown General Santos City.
Preparations goes full blast starting Monday. Pacquiao said.
“Old? Oh come on. Marami na nagsabi n’yan but until today, at 40, I’m still standing and fighting, “ he said dismissing Thurman’s prediction of ending his career for good. “I’m the kind of fighter that I don’t talk too much. I do my talking in the ring. I can do a lot of things in that ring.”
“As I have been saying, I feel I’m 29 years old like when I fought Oscar. Sana, he (Thurman) can prove his words in the ring. I’m going to be a warrior on July 20 and show Keith Thurman what it’s like to be in the ring with me, “ Pacquiao vowed.
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