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Philippines, 20 Apr 2024 |
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October 6 is a Big Boxing Day! By Ed Picson PhilBoxing.com Wed, 26 Sep 2007  Manny Pacquiao left Manila Saturday evening and arrived Los Angeles, Saturday evening (California time) to a throng of welcomers. His usual coterie of friends, associates and hangers-on along with fans of different nationalities were on hand to see and touch the boxing icon who is arguably the most exciting pugilist in the world today. Our broadcast colleague Hermie Rivera, a long-time California resident who has been unable to get rid of the boxing bug that bit him many moons ago, reports that even the airport police at the LAX were transformed into adoring fans as the Pacman made his way through the airport. Almost to a man, they professed admiration for the Filipino sensation?s fiery brand of boxing. According to Rivera, Pacquiao immediately proceeded to his LA apartment for a good night?s rest then hit the road early the following morning (Sunday) for a 30-minute jog. Asked if the GenSan sensation showed any signs of travel-fatigue or jet lag, Rivera replied in the negative, even citing Pacquiao?s whirlwind trip over a month ago where he stayed in L.A. only three days. In that brief stay, Pacquiao displayed amazing physical conditioning as Rivera says he was awed by the punch mitt displays he put up with trainer Buboy Fernandez. ?He should even be sharper now after his successful training in Cebu. He is obviously at the prime of his life at 28 years old, and coupled with his punishing regimen, the guy looks like he doesn?t know the meaning of jet lag?, enthused the former boxing manager. Rivera, whose dalliance with boxing brought forth world champions Morris East and Luisito Espinosa among others, swears he doesn?t see anything that could possibly derail Manny?s avowed mission of once again putting Marco Antonio Barrera away on October 6 (US time) in Las Vegas. ?He looked very relaxed, kidding around and smiling a lot, showed a good appetite which just proves he doesn?t have any weight problems, and more importantly, he looks awesome physically?, said Rivera. ?Buboy also intimated to me that Manny is down to around 134 lbs., so he is well within their target weight at this point.? After the light morning run, Manny was said to have taken time off to look over some potential business investments in the area, including a row of apartments that was being offered to him. Rivera relates the champ was amused when he encountered several Mexican residents in the area who claimed they were rooting for him (Pacquiao) in his fight against his Mexican opponent. He capped off the day by attending Sunday mass and was scheduled to head for the gym to resume his winding-up sessions at Wild Card. Even if only half of Rivera?s pronouncements is accurate, it looks like everything is hunky-dory, Pacquiao-side. He cautions however, that Barrera?s camp has been ominously quiet, shielding their fighter?s training from public scrutiny, which may mean that there might be something cooking in the Mexican camp. But Pacquiao believers have no doubt that Pacquiao is ready for whatever Barrera plans to dish out. As his fellow Visayans are wont to say-?Ihawon lagi ni Manny na? (Manny will surely slaughter him). We?ll invite ourselves to the ensuing feast. ***** Speaking of Visayans, we had a lengthy conversation with Milan Melindo, the stellar attraction of the boxing card we are putting together, aslo on October 6 (but Philippine time) in Cagayan de Oro City, with the able support of Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno. Melindo (WBO Asia-Pacific #2) reveals that he started training as early as the last week of June, for his biggest fight yet, a clash with Thai Naupayak Sakkririn (WBO Asia-Pacific #3) for the vacant Minimumweight championship of the WBO Asia-Pacific region. Melindo bared that he has been sparring three times a week, aside from the daily work-outs at the ALA gym in Cebu. He has had some big name sparmates such as Donnie Nietes who actually vacated the title to go up for the world championship on Sept. 30, his region mate Mar John Yap (who will also see action in the CDO card) and flyweight Nick Banal (AJ?s elder brother). The 19-year old undefeated native of Puerto, Cagayan de Oro says he and trainer Rey Caitom have been working on strengthening his right hand and turning it into a more potent weapon to go with his devastating left. A high school graduate, Melindo says he plans to pursue a college degree, but feels he can concentrate on a boxing career first, as he is confident he has the skills to make it to the world stage. We wholeheartedly agree, which is why we dared to pick his championship quest as our first boxing project. May October 6 prove to be an auspicious day for Manny, Milan and all of us! PhilBoxing.com would like to welcome its newest contributor, columnist and broadcaster Ed Picson, who is one of the pillars of Philippine sports journalism. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed Picson.  |
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