While the whole wide world gets to see Sen. Manny Pacquiao work out in Manila, it is the complete opposite over at Jessie Vargas? training camp in Las Vegas, site of their scheduled 12-round world welterweight war set Nov. 5.
?No media or myself is allowed during sparring,? said ace publicist Lee Samuels, tapped by Bob Arum?s Top Rank to handle the media obligations of Vargas, who risks his World Boxing Organization 147-lb crown for the first time against the Filipino legend at the Thomas and Mack Center.
Samuels, however, have been to a few of Vargas?s workouts on non-sparring days and he describes the action as ?very intense.?
Aside from doing regular high-altitude endurance training at Mount Charleston, a short drive from Sin City, Vargas holds his daily preparations at night.
?He trains from 6-9 p.m. and sometimes trains until 10 p.m.,? said Samuels, noting that chief trainer Dewey Cooper continues to focus on Vargas? right hand.
Vargas? pet punch is the right straight that actually curves when thrown, the punch that almost sent Tim Bradley into dreamland and messed up Saddam Ali?s faculties.
As Vargas holds his sparring sessions behind closed doors, Pacquiao has yet to clamp down on curious onlookers and fans from watching him train at the Elorde Gym at the Mall of Asia grounds.
Since kicking off the sparring phase last week, Pacquiao has showcased his wares before the general public although those in attendance have been requested not to film or take pictures of the sparring and the equally-revealing padwork.
But Freddie Roach, who blew into town early this week, is expected to shut down the gym so a limited number can see Pacquiao train in the flesh.
Team Pacquiao is booked to fly to the US on Oct. 22 for the final phase of training at the Wild card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
