MANILA, Philippines – Justin Fortune has broken the silence from within Team Pacquiao.
The past week or two, the Wild Card Gym is off limits to anybody with no business being there. Not even the media is allowed in.
Nobody?s talking ? even when pressed for answers why Manny Pacquiao, a certified workaholic, has missed three sparring sessions.
Bob Arum was at the gym last week but left as quietly as he came.
Normally, the 83-year-old promoter can talk endlessly about Pacquiao.
Until Fortune, the ex-heavyweight contender and now Pacquiao?s strength coach, spoke to Brad Cooney of 8countnews.com. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Contrary to fears that Pacquiao may be hurting, Fortune said the 36-year-old superstar is ?on schedule? and ?looks very good.?
Fortune had seen the best of Pacquiao the past decade.
?This is the Manny from back in the Morales and Barrera and first Marquez fights. This is where he sets his legacy,? said Fotune
?He?s so motivated for this fight that we actually have to pull him back a little bit,? added Fortune.
Then he issues a threat.
?He (Pacquiao) wants to destroy this guy,? said Fortune, referring Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated champion.
It?s the fight that matters ? both for Pacquiao and Mayweather.
Fortune said it?s just a matter of the game plan being followed and executed well.
If that happens, then the mission will be accomplished.
?Yes, and if Manny listens to Freddie I believe that he?ll knock Mayweather out,? he said.
Notes: Finally, a decent, well-crafted movie about the life of Manny Pacquiao. ?Kid Kulafu,? the movie, hits the big screen today to give the fans a closer look at the young life of the Filipino boxing superstar. It?s about Pacquiao?s childhood and about his struggles. Buboy Villar, who plays Pacquiao, went through the eye of the needle to land the role. ?I knew there were a lot who auditioned that?s why I was so happy when I was chosen. I?m really a big fan of Pacquiao,? said Villar. He hopes to be at ringside on May 2 in Las Vegas. Paul Soriano directed the film for ABS-CBN and Star Cinema?.The list just gets longer and longer. This time it?s UFC star Ronda Rousey who dropped by to see Pacquiao as he prepares for the big fight. Rousey is the latest name to be included in the guest list, others including Tim Tebow, Mark Wahlberg and Karl Malone.
