Philippines, 02 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao: Culprit must be cornered, licked


PhilBoxing.com




WHEN Manny Pacquiao was asked about his thick, powerful calves in the run-up to the Tim Bradley fight, he snapped back with a sharp if not very accurate reply.

?How are my calves? Bigger! They feel fine.?

Pacquiao was replying to the famous author Gary Andrew Poole of Esquire and Time International.

Poole had honestly wanted to know if Pacquiao would he pain-free against Bradley.

Poole had this to say on his worries:

**

?In the run-up to Pacquiao-Marquez III last November, I heard the same rumors about personal distractions, over-training, and calf pain. Pacquiao was expected to stop Marquez, a 6-1 underdog. But without the spring he normally gets from his calves, Pacuiao becomes just another fighter with limited defensive skills. Marquez, whose counter-punching style has always troubled Pacquio, was able to catch the usually elusive Filipino with a variety of punches?.To Freddie Roach?s horror, Pacquiao was incapable of moving to the right. Midway through the fight, as it became apparent that Pacquiao wasn?t on his game and that he might lose, he started complaining about the calves.?

**

There?s reason to believe though that Team Pacquiao had frantically tried to keep the problem from both fans and the rival camp in the run-up to the Bradley bout last month.
In the final week of Pacquiao training in Baguio City, one scheduled morning jog had to be aborted.

Pacquiao was already at Burham Park, all geared up, when everybody suddenly started packing up.

Reason given was a bothersome pain around the thigh area.
They had all the right and reason to hide the real problem.
In fact, Bradley had bragged he would?ve had no problem once he could push his bout with Pacquiao down to the concluding rounds.
Did Bradley?s trainer himself notice the abrupt deterioration in Pacquiao?s speed, sharpness and strength in the latter rounds of the clashes against Shane Mosley and Marquez?

**

Meanwhile, here at home, age and visible slip in his speed and sharpness, were singled out as the culprit behind Pacquiao below-par showing.

Wrote sportsman Manny Pinol in his column yesterday: ?Watching Manny Pacquiao against Bradley was like watching the Pacman?s old fights--in slow motion. Visibly gone were the cat-like quickness and the agility of old. In the many instances when he could have rained his opponent with a staccato of punches from all directions, the boxer who was in the ring with Bradley could only throw a three-punch combination, two of which missed the target.?

**

Was Pacquiao?s performance vs Bradley tell-tale signs that he is old? Pinol answered his own question:

?The Philippines leading musculoskeleal expert, Dr. Isagani Leal of the Center for Musculoskeletal Science, Asia, who closely observed Pacquiao movements against Bradley, says leg muscle problems, which Pacquiao had earlier complained about--not age--slowed him down in his fight against the American challenger.
?I watched him and noticed that in the later part of the first six rounds, he started stretching and pumping his legs,? Dr.Leal said.

**

The Israeli-trained expert said the leg movements appeared to be mere skips and hops but they were actually manifestations of the tightening of the leg muscles which impeded Pacquiao?s mobility inside the ring.

?It was evident Manny was having pain in those legs, that explained why he did not move as much as he had wanted,? Dr Leal said.

Leal, 45, swore that the massage therapy that Pacquio goes through every time he suffers from leg cramps would not cure the malady.

?Modern musculoskeletal science has given us the technology to really probe into the problem muscles through ultrasound,? the expert advised.

Once identified, he said the muscles are subjected to a series of non-invasive procedures and therapy to loosen and cure them.
Leal, a devoted Pacquiao fan, said he?s willing ?to do everything to help his idol ?get back to his old self and become again the most exciting fighter in the world today.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.