SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Manny Pacquiao’s last day at the gym was off-limits. No fans, no friends, no media.
Showing that he means serious business, Pacquiao ordered the front door at the Jesse James Leija Gym outside the city proper closed as he worked out for the last time heading to his fight with Mexican Jorge Solis on Saturday.
Not even Filipino scribes who have followed Pacquiao’s training all the way from Los Angeles were allowed inside. Outside looking in from the glass windows, they saw the Pinoy boxer work hard as ever.
Shortly after his handlers ripped the bandage off his hands, Pacquiao opened the door.
“Okay na. Underweight na (It’s okay. I’m underweight),” said the 28-year-old boxer, in a silver sweat suit, fit and trim, his cheekbones more prominent and looking well inside the 130-pound limit for Saturday’s fight at the Alamodome.
Pacquiao even showed the media his famous six-pack, raising his shirt the way Solis did earlier in the day at the lobby of the Radisson Hotel where both fighters are staying.
“Wala akong problema. Ang kalaban ang may problema (I have no problems. It’s the opponent who has a problem),” added Pacquiao who trained with Justine Fortune as his lovely wife Jinkee watched from outside the ring.
It was the first time, probably in weeks, that Jinkee came over to see his husband train.
“Masarap mag-train dito (It’s nice to train here),” he said.
Fortune, who handled Pacquiao’s training in the absence of Freddie Roach, said their preparations for the coming fight are as hard as those in preparing for bigger fights against Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales.
“The same preparations. What we’ve done before, we did this time,” added Fortune who expects Roach to fly in from Puerto Rico Friday morning in time for the 2 p.m. weigh-in at the Alamodome.
Fortune said Pacquiao in top shape is simply unbeatable.
“There’s no one who can beat him at 130 pounds today,” he said.
Reacting to statements made by Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran that Pacquiao should be ready because Solis is a boxer who can throw as many as 250 punches in a single round, Fortune just offered a smile.
Then he said: “Manny throws 500 punches per round. Fernando Beltran is very confident and he should be. They’re the opposition.”
