WELL RESTED PACQUIAO BACK TO OLD FORM WITH NEW SHOES

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Manny Pacquiao is back ... the Manny Pacquiao of old, that is.

Refreshed and well-rested following a two-day hiatus due to an injured left eye, the fighting Congressman returned to the road early morning Friday and to the Wild Card Gym later in the day to resume his preparation for his upcoming third fight with American Timothy Bradley set April 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

What caught the attention of keen observers inside the gym though was their idol was back with a red headband, which one spectator said was one of the fighter's trademarks during the days when he was beating future boxing Hall of Famers one after another.

"Pahiyang lang. At saka para hindi matuluan ng pawis ang mata ko," the only man on earth to win world championships in eight divisions said.

For head trainer Freddie Roach though, his pupil's new look, (or was it old look?) was a good sign that Pacman is, indeed, going back tracing the memory of his more glorious days.

"It's a good sign," an elated Roach whispered to this writer after doing 13 rounds with the mitts with his partner of 15 years. "I don't care what his reason was in wearing that headband. I just hope he does that when he climbs the ring on April 9, like he used to do in the early days of his career."

Not only that, the three-time "Fighter of he Year" came to the gym wearing a brand new black and gold Mizuno boxing shoes ordered for him by his Hall of fame trainer himself.

"I ordered six pairs of that in different colors. Only one came, but the rest will be coming within the next few days," Roach said, clarifying though that Pacquiao is not an endorser of the famous Japanese sports apparel firm.

Roach, actually, had prepared an 11-round mitts session, but it was extended to 13 upon the request of Pacquiao himself.

"He's full of spirit today and didn't want to stop. So, I gave him another two rounds," the seven-time Trainer of the Year honoree said, adding the scheduled sparring session with just-arrived sparring mate, Congolese-Canadian Ghislain Maduma will push through Sarturday.

"We've already lost some precious time and I want to make up for that," he explained.