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Philippines, 18 May 2024 |
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PACQUIAO SHOWS UP IN THE GYM: "I'M NOT UNDERESTIMATING HORN" By Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph PhilBoxing.com Mon, 08 May 2017  By way of dispelling the notion perceived by some sectors that he is underestimating Australian contender Jeff Horn against whom he will be staking his belt two months from now, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao plunges into his nine-week preparedness program starting today at the Elorde Gym inside the Mall of Asia compound in Pasay City. The Filipio ring icon and his former schoolteacher title pretender lock horns on July 2 at the latter?s home turf at Suncorp Arena in Brisbane. ?Here we are again. Back to the salt mine,? Pacquiao quipped rather excitingly Sunday after attending a church service held in Makati. ?Balik-ensayo, balik-boksing at siyempre excited na maka-amoy na naman gym, makapagsuot ng boxing glove, sumuntok sa heavy bag, double end at speed ball.? ?Miss ko na rin ang tunog kapag tumatama ang glove sa pad. Sabik na rin magsayaw sa ibabaw ng ring, Mag-luksog lubid, mag-shadow box at maki-pag-spar na walang sawa nating ginagawa 22 years na tuwing may laban. Buhay ng boksingero,? he said with glow in his eyes. ?It?s been quiet a long time since the last time we did this routine, no? Six months na,? the eight-division champion, three-time Fighter of the Year, Fighter of the Decade honoree rolled into one said in reference to the last time he fought November last year when he outpointed Mexican-American Jessie Vargas to win back the crown. The nine-week training schedule is Pacquiao?s longest since losing to unbeaten arch-rival, American Floyd Mayweaher Jr. two years ago. The Pacman trained for no less than two months in that biggest and richest fight in the history of sweet science. ?Katunayan yan na I?m not taking this fight lightly as some sectors think I am,? Pacquiao said. ?At hindi ko rin ina-underestimate and kalaban ko.? The sparring phase of the build up regimen will come, according to assistant trainer Roger ?Haplas? Fernandez, a week later, depending the availability of a sparring partner. ?Light lang muna. Pagpag lang at paalis-kalawang kumbaga itong first week tapos next week, sparring kung may makukuha agad na Pilipinong sparmate,? Fernandez related. ?Training will turn serious and rigid pagdating na ni coach Freddie (Roach) maybe sa third week." Focus, according to Fernandez, in the first two weeks will be on stamina-building, physical conditioning and recovering what Pacquiao lost in the six months he?d been away from the gym. ?Ibig sabihin, ihahanda lang muna namin si boss para pagdating ni coach Freddie kaya na niya ng mabibigat na routine,? he explained. ?Besides, magbabago na namang bigla ang buhay ni boss,? he added. ?Balik na naman sya sa buhay na gising sa madaling-araw para sa roadwork, breakfast, pahinga konti, biyahe puntang senado, attend ng mga hearing before lunch, attend ng session then tuloy sa gym. Parang buhay niya noong laban kay Vargas, is first fight, actually as a senator,? Fernandez recalled. ?Not an easy life if you ask me,? Choi Garcia, Pacquiao?s executive director in his senate office, butted in. ?Pero nakaya nya yan noong last fight, makakaya din nya yan ngayon.? ?Me. taking Horn lightly? No way. It?s not my cup of tea,? the three-time welterweight titlist declared by way of reacting to media reports claiming he if hasn?t started training because he?s belittling his unheralded but nevertheless no. 2 challenger?s capabilities. ?Twety two years na ako sa boksing at may mahigit nang animnapung laban pero wala pang nakapagsabing nagmaliit ako ng kakayahan ng mga nakalaban,? the 38-year-old national sports hero told this writer in a telephone interview while resting in his Forbes Park residence Thursday, the day he was supposed to go to the gym as earlier planned. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph.  |
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