LOS ANGELES — He did not say anything upon arrival, but Manny Pacquiao made a clear statement — he?s out to be at his best — when he burst from bed at the break of dawn Sunday and did an unscheduled 30-minute jog to the surprise of aides and handlers.
Pacquiao, in thick blue workout outfit, a woolen bonnet wrapping his head, braved the chill and reported to the nearby La Brea Park, towing with him team staffers whom he had roused by pulling off their blankets, without saying a word.
Unlike in previous major preparations when he was wont to issue pre-fight statements, stinging and otherwise, Pacquiao has been going through this championship regimen quietly.
?This definitely augurs well, this must be the calm before the storm,? said the head of a Filipino television crew that flew in with Pacquiao from Manila Saturday evening here.
Without using a gauge, Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico has easily outpaced Pacquiao in the speaking portion of their boiling rivalry.
While the Mexican boxing legend had called Pacquiao an ugly thorn on his side, adding he has been aching all these years to beat his Filipino rival he could actually taste it, the Pacman, who knocked out Barrera four years ago, has kept mum.
The speaking chore has obviously been left to trainer Freddie Roach, who on Sunday, taunted Barrera to come over and watch (spy) Pacquiao train.
Roach, who said they have nothing to hide, added he would make sure Barrera does not use extra thick bandage around his fists in the encounter in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao returns Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to the Wild Card gym, which he left Aug. 10 to train in Cebu, for some more sparring, originally scheduled at eight rounds, but which promises to break past the day?s limit.
?You can say he?s just out to be even better than Manny Pacquiao himself,? quipped Rolando Hiso whose two fighters (Glenn Gonzales and Jundy Maraon) he co-manages with Vice Gov. Manny Pinol of North Cotabato are listed in the Will to Win card on Oct. 6.
