Philippines, 11 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacman?s build-up program starts Monday


PhilBoxing.com




KUALA LUMPUR ? The road to wining another world title begins Monday when Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao returns to the road for the first time in nine months in preparation for his coming fight against World Boxing Association welterweight belt-owner Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.

The 39-year-old Pacquiao, now a senator, who has so far won 11 world titles in eight weight divisions, will be challenging Matthysse for the latter?s 147-pound plum on July 15 (July 14 in the U.S.) at the Axiata Arena here in the hope of regaining his glorious days as champion deprived him by Australian Jeff Horn who dethroned him of the World Boxing Organization version of the same category July 2 last year in Brisbane.

No less than Pacquiao himself told this writer of starting his training during breakfast Friday after arriving in this Malaysian capital following a four-hour trip from Manila on board a Philippine Airlines chartered flight.

Pacquiao and Matthysse, who was also in the same flight with their respective teams, came here for the second leg of the media tour set late mid-morning Friday at the posh Le Meridien Hotel to promote the July 14 collision.

?Light roadwork lang muna. Halos one year tayong nabakante, baka mabunsol,? Pacquiao said. ?Maybe after a week of roadwork, we can start with the gym regimen of preparation. It depends really on how my body responds. Pahiyang pa lamang kumbaga.?

Buboy Fernandez, who will act as chief trainer in the absence of Pacquiao?s 17-year trainer Freddie Roach, whose fate is still to be decided, agreed.

?Actually, it?s really too early to start training. Three months pa before the fight. But when he suggested that we start right after the presscon, pumayag ako agad kasi na-realize ko kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari,? Buboy explained.

?Napaka-importante kast talaga na magsimula kami nang maaga. Pare-pareho kaming nawala ang isip at katawan sa boksing. We really have to feel our way back to what we?ve been doing for a long time,? he pointed out.

"We all know naman na Manny plays basketball almost two to three hours daily at tiyak din natin na nasa kondiyon siya. Eh iba naman kasi ang basketball sa boksing," Buboy said. ?Ang basketball leisure at cross-training lang, ang boksing, propesyon.?

When the Senate is in recess, training would be in General Santos City where the Pacman owns a gym. If not, preparation will be in Manila.

Buboy, meanwhile, said he doesn?t mind whether he should play the role as chief trainer as reported. Assistant trainer ako habang buhay ko kaya ang tatrabahuhi ko ay yung nauukol sa pagiging assistant habang wala pang official announcement sa talagang status ni coach Freddie.?

?Pinaka-the best best trainer ay si coach Freddie. Hall of Famer at pitong beses na nagawaran ng karangalang Trainer of the Year. Labing-pitong taon akong understudy ni coach Freddie at inaamin ko naman na napakarmi kong natutuhan sa kanya puwede kong ipatupad.?

?Kapag ang naging opisyal na desisyon ay talagang wala na siya sa amin the pipilitin kong kayahin ang gawaing iaatang sa aking balikat,? Buboy? has been at Pacquiao? beck and call throughout his boxing career vowed.

?Kapag siya pa rin, tatanggapin ko rin, afterall, si Manny pa rin naman ang pagsisilbihan ko. Wala namang kahalagahan ang maging hepe ka o maging assistant ka lamang. Ang importante alam mo ang trabaho at kayang gampanan,? Pacquiao?s boyhood pal and neighbor in their growing up days at Barangay Labangal in General Santos City said.

Photo: Trainer Buboy Fernandez speaks to the media as Manny Pacquiao listens during Friday's press conference at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kuala Lumpur announcing the upcoming for the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19
    , Wed, 10 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Casimero still rocking
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York
    , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026
  • Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Dalton Smith receives inaugural WBC Ricky Hatton Legacy Belt in front of thousands in Mancheste
    , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Stacey King three time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • FM Daluz sweeps 10th AQ Prime chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026
  • Llover vows comeback
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.