Manny Pacquiao may be the same fun-loving, impish human being he has always been, but we?re going to be seeing less and less of that playful side as his May 2 date with destiny approaches?and that is bad news for Floyd Mayweather.
Late last week, it was revealed in a feature done by the Los Angeles Times that the eight-division world champ would be in full blackout mode when it comes to interviews and high profile public appearances, with the exception of his scheduled April 15 presser.
A self-imposed blackout from an outgoing character like Manny says all there is to say about how serious this bout is to him.
?You have to focus without interruption after your activities of jogging, training ? I don?t want to focus on anything other than boxing,? Pacquiao told The LA Times after a Thursday workout. ?I?m not complaining about interviews. They help us promote the fight and help the people know what?s happening in the camps. This is just the first time I?m asking for time to focus. There?s something I need to achieve in this camp, especially mentally.?
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He knows the task at hand will be difficult and one that requires not only hard physical work, but an absolutely different type of preparation.
Pacquiao knows all about preparing his body for the physicality of elite-level prizefighting, but for this upcoming bout, he?ll have to prepare his mind to that same razor-sharp status. He will have to train himself to not buy into Mayweather?s in-ring trickery and not allow his opponent?s entire bag of tricks to pull him off his game plan.
This won?t be an easy task.
But Manny?s understanding that he will need 100%, distraction-free focus gives us a good indication that, at the very least, he knows what needs to be learned.
And, on May 2, if we see Pacquiao not over-committing to punches, not buying into Mayweather?s traps, and not juked into off-balance angles by Mayweather trickery we know it will be a long night for ?Money.?
In the meantime, Manny will keep working to read and counter every trick in Mayweather repertoire. No addressing huddled media, no cute songs on late night TV, no smiling public appearances. The warrior in Manny Pacquiao has returned and his silence could mean that Floyd Mayweather?s undefeated days are numbered.
