It was business as usual yesterday for Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym, although his team has cut down on his sparring going into the next few days before he departs for San Antonio, Texas on Sunday for the April 14 defense of his WBC International super-featherweight crown against Mexican Jorge Solis. “Sharp na sharp na si Manny. If Solis is not on the same level, it’s going to be early goodnight for him,” said a member of Pacquiao’s inner circle in a long-distance interview yesterday while Pacquiao was still doing his routine. Pacquiao sparred for four rounds with Armando Sta. Cruz, four rounds with David Rodela, and another two rounds with Lenny Zippavignia for a total of ten, this after a series of 12-rounders he had done in the last week. Thus far, Pacquiao has already breached the 120-round mark in his preparation for Solis, and should have more or less 150 rounds come fight night. After the sparring sessions, Pacquiao cooled down by hitting the double-end bag for ten minutes, another ten minutes on the speedball, jumped rope for twelve minutes, and six rounds of shadow-boxing, sharing the ring with WBC Youth superbantam champ Bernabe Concepcion, who arrived from the Philippines only recently. Pacquiao then made a short prayer after shadow-boxing, then did a series of abdominal exercises with Justin Fortune and physical therapist Jeff De Guzman. “Medyo mahigpit sa media kanina. Di pinakunan ang sparring. Magaling si Manny at handang-handa na,” (They were a bit strict with the media today. They did not allow the sparring session to be recorded. Manny is doing ok and he’s ready to go), said the source, pointing out that GMA’s Lala Roque was observing while the sessions were going on. Also present was Forty Nazario, son of Pacquiao’s former business manager Rod. As usual, after the training session, Pacquiao and his entourage then went down the Wild Card Gym to visit his favorite Thai restaurant, where he and the group feasted on peking duck, salmon, shrimp fried rice, sword fish cooked in soy sauce, fried chicken, chicken soup and noodles. Also yesterday, Pacquiao found time to finalize a deal involving his purchase of a 10-unit apartment building located along Virgil Street near Wild Card Gym, which will be rented out to his fellow boxers on reasonable rates. “Eto po ang maitutulong ko sa mga kapwa ko boksingero dito sa States. Bibigyan ko sila ng murang pabahay,” (This is my way of helping my fellow boxers in the States. I will give them inexpensive housing) Pacquiao was quoted as saying. The apartment, according to Pacquiao, will be managed by a property managerment group that will take care of its upkeep and maintenance. “Yang boksing kasi, habang bata lang tayo. Pinaghahandaan ko na po yung future ng mga anak ko,” (Boxing is only good when we are still young. I’m already preparing for the future of my children), said Pacquiao.
