Had the open workout taken place on a football field in a city just south of San Francisco named Daly City, there?s no doubt in my mind that thousands of fanatics would have shown their faces in support of their hero.
Instead of thousands there were probably hundreds of loyal Manny Pacquiao followers that graced the Titanium Boxing Gym in the heart of San Francisco. Parking was scarce as it always is and the turnout still had the raw energy that could probably power one of those monstrous casinos in Sin City.
The trio of Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, and Bob Arum were all in attendance as they enthusiastically gave the Bay Area natives a glimpse at the big-time world of prize fighting.
As Manny entered the Titanium gym he was greeted with the raucous chants of, ?Manny, Manny, Manny!?
The Filipino icon flashed his patented million dollar smile as he graciously greeted the fans that had taken time off work and gone out of their way to catch a glimpse of their idol.
As the Pacman prepared himself in the locker room, more and more fans started filling up the gym creating a sauna-type atmosphere that had most people sweating like an over heated pig. The exuberance was evident as Pacquiao?s supporters smiled rabidly and wore their excitement as Ricardo ?RiGordo? Lois does when devouring his first meal of the day.
In entering the ring, Pacquiao and Roach warmed up bouncing on their toes and then proceeded to go to work hitting the mitts. The sounds generated in the gym where comparable to that of a Desert Eagle gunshot as Manny pounded Roaches mitts with a ferocity that would make any Juan Manuel Marquez supporter quiver with fear.
Putting it on a little too thick?
Ok, maybe not Desert Eagle gunshots but at least .38 caliber-type fireballs are what the southpaw?s punches were reminiscent of.
The fans continued cheering as Manny worked in exuberant fashion finishing up his workout with an exhibition of jumping rope. He smiled throughout his jump roping session acknowledging all the excited fans that came to show their support and then proceeded to once again head to the locker room to change up his gear.
In speaking with trainer Freddie Roach he stated, ?Marquez might be 34 years old but he?s still a relatively fresh fighter. He hasn?t engaged in too many wars over the course of his career so I feel that he has a lot more left in the tank than many people believe.?
I then stated, ?This will be the most difficult fight of Manny?s career Freddie. It?s gonna be a tough, tough fight!?
Freddie nodded in agreement stating that, ?Marquez is a great fighter and we?re just hoping that he comes in fighting as he has done recently as it?ll give us a lot more opportunities to hurt him and knock him out!?
Another gentleman chimed in about getting a fair shake in Vegas and Roach replied, ?I don?t worry too much about that type of thing. As long as we go in there and fight our fight, I?m confident the judges will make the right call. The only judge that I?d veto is Guy Jutras as he scored the first bout by five rounds for Marquez. I don?t know what fight he was watching.?
I switched gears asking Roach about the De la Hoya-Forbes fight which he stated, ?The fact that Floyd Sr. is training Oscar is good. There?s no hard feelings between me and Oscar because he did notify me that he was gonna go with Floyd for this bout and the rematch with Junior. The only thing that I don?t appreciate is when senior and Roger badmouth my old trainer Eddie Futch. I can defend myself but Eddie?s gone now and I think it?s completely disrespectful to do that to him.?
As for Floyd Mayweather Jr., Freddie stated, ?You know after the De la Hoya fight Floyd approached me and told me that he had a lot of respect for my training abilities. He wanted to make sure that I knew that there was a difference between him and the rest of his family with all the stuff they?d been saying. From everything I?ve seen from junior he?s a stand-up guy.?
I then proceeded to hand Freddie a BoxingConfidential t-shirt with the beautiful face of Michael ?White Gorilla? Marley plastered dead center on it.
Freddie started laughing as he saw ?Gordo?s? picture saying that he?d met the bossman when he was writing for the Las Vegas sun some years back.
I stated, ?I met Marley at the zoo and dragged from his cage. He looked depressed??
Freddie chuckled which I found amusing as I then asked the million dollar question? ?So? you betting on your man come March 15??
He shook his head as mostly everyone does when I ask about their habits as potential degenerate gamblers.
A photographer and boxer from the Philippines noticed the BoxingConfidential t-shirt that I had handed Roach and stated, “Boxingconfidential? I enjoy your stuff Chavez! You always write entertaining articles although I thought you’d be older.”
I reply, “Older? I’m 45 man!”
He chuckled stating, “Wasn’t Marley the guy that had beef with Pacquiao’s lawyer Gacal? Weren’t they supposed to fight or something?”
I say, “Yeah… that’s until he found out Marley is about 350 pounds.”
As the reporters from the various news outlets gathered around Pacquiao in order to bombard him with a series of questions (many being rather redundant), the one thing that stood out is that Manny clearly stated, ?I will be in the best shape of my life come March 15 and I feel so strong. Marquez will not be able to deal with my strength and power.?
It?s a bold statement made by the legendary Filipino fighter but at least there?s no excuses that seem to be brewing as the general sentiment is that the Pacman is having no issues, injuries, or distractions in this training camp.
As for whether Manny will eventually some day fight in San Francisco again? there?s no doubt that the 42,000 seat stadium in AT&T park would be filled to the brim with Filipinos, Mexicans, Italians, Samoans, and Martians as the area is quickly becoming a boxing hotbed with the strong amateur program and gyms such as the Straight Forward Club as well as Frisco Boxing assisting in carrying the sport.
There might be indeed only be one Ricky Hatton but there?s also only one Manny Pacquiao as well.
Now if only the Pac-maniacs could come up with some sort of unison cheer to rival that of their British counterparts. Should that happen come March 15, the atmosphere might have a chance at possibly outdoing the event we witnessed last December between Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Either way, I can?t wait for the day to come when the rematch that?s been four years in the making comes to fruition.
It will most definitely be one for the ages my friends?
