There is no doubt that Manny Pacquiao trains very hard in the Wild Card gym. He trains like there?s no tomorrow! Winning world crowns in four different weight divisions is a result of this tireless work ethic and ferocious attitude in the ring. The Pacman has started training for the $40 million showdown with the British Brawler Ricky Hatton. Based on last year?s training regimen,his grueling sessions start at seven in the morning with a thousand sit-ups, a long run and a non-stop speed and strength exercise for the next three hours.
?I never seen anyone train hard like Manny?, Bob Arum said in an interview with Filipino scribes. He is like a mad animal let loose in the gym.
“Manny’s work rate is so high, he has a tendency to push too hard for too long,” strength coach Alex Ariza told ESPN. “We have to tell him to stop or he’ll burn himself out.”
This training habit worries Roach a lot. Sometimes they have to stop him from doing more sparring rounds or from punching the mitts. Cases of overtraining have affected many fighters. And Coach Roach is making sure his most prized pupil will not burn himself out.
Outside the ring, Pacquiao is very generous. As a national hero to 90 million Filipinos, Pacquiao is well known for his charitable work in the city of General Santos. He has set up a foundation, which gives food, medical supplies, clothes and money to people in need.
Pacquiao?s philanthropic activities show that he has never forgotten his meager means and origins. This contributes to his popularity amongst Filipinos in his native land and abroad.
“Sometimes I’m worried that he’s too generous,” Roach said in an ESPN documentary. “He has such a big heart and gives away so much money, food and charity that I’m afraid he’ll give it all away.?
The Pacman battles it out with Ricky Hatton on 2nd of May at the MGM Grand in a titanic clash which could earn him as much as $25million. Win or lose, he will gain more funds for his philanthropic activities.
Freddie has guided and improved Pacquiao from a one dimensional fighter to well-rounded world class athlete. Maybe it is high time for Coach Roach to take lessons on financial management and charity work and help Manny?s Career there too.
