ONCE HE reports for training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Manny Pacquiao will be so fit, he’ll practically be ready to climb up the ring.
This is why he is not leaving for Los Angeles until March 14, exactly one month before he collides with upset-conscious Mexican Jorge Solis of Mexico at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Pacquiao is already deep in training that his Hollywood stint would be a mere fine-tuning for his April 14 encounter with the Mexican dreamer.
For instance, he was at the ABAP Gym in General Santos yesterday and left around 4:30 p.m., his training a bit cut short by the oppressive heat in the area.
“Sobra ang init ngayon dito,” said Pacquiao, whose workout started nearly three weeks ago.
Pacquiao’s training sessions are being supervised by Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, who will join the fighter when he flies to the US.
This afternoon, he spars with Arnel Porras, Cesar Angcahas and another guy from Manila.
When he goes to the US, there will be no Freddie Roach to train him. He wil be handled by Roach’s assistant Justin Fortune. Freddie Roach is in Puerto Rico training Oscar De La Hoya for a May 5 duel with Floyd Mayweather Jr..
Rey Golingan, whose amateur boxing program in GenSan was where Pacquiao began his now storied career, said the 28-year-old notes that there is nothing to worry about Pacquiao’s preparations. He said that once Pacquiao puts on of gloves, it’s all business.
“That’s been Manny’s trait ever since,” said Golingan. “Once he gets into training mode, it’s difficult to stop him.”
Pacquiao showed this trait over the weekend when he opted to stay in Gensan and train than make a brief visit to Manila and grace the formal launching of the PBA Party List at the Sheraton Hotel.
At around the time when the major players of that party list and the press were heading to the venue, Pacquiao was working a sweat at the ABAP Gym, said Golingan, adding that Pacquiao’s weight remains in check. A few days back, Pacquiao tipped the scales at 137 lbs. His fighting weight is 122 lbs.
