LOS ANGELES, California, United States of America — No, Manny Pacquiao is not missing. But he’s “love-sick.”
Uneasy, Pacquiao took a weekend break and left for San Francisco.
He came back here Monday still thinking of Erik Morales. He said he tried but could not get the good-looking Mexican ring legend out of his mind.
“Hindi siya maalis sa isip ko, gabi at araw ( I think of him day and night,)” Pacquiao said of Morales, whom he fights in Las Vegas on March 19.
Pacquiao’s burning desire could also border on infatuation.
“Napapanaginipan ko na si Morales. Nagugutom ako, sobrang excited na ako dyan, eh (I’ve been dreaming of Morales, I’m terribly excited about him),” Pacquiao confided to the Inquirer yesterday.
He said he felt the same blues in the run-up to his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he demolished in November 2003.
Pacquiao said he left for San Francisco after completing his regimen Saturday. He spent Sunday in the cool, romantic city by the bay. He was, however, surprised when he returned to reports that he had gone missing.
“Sunday naman, I decided to go to San Francisco to sign some papers,” he explained sounding a bit displeased at the reports.
Monday was regular workout day and Pacquiao did the usual long, punishing gym regimen.
He said their planned trip to promote the March 19 clash in Mexico City will hinge on their interview at the Mexican embassy here.
“We need to get our visas, baka hindi kami pabalikin,” said Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s trainer.
Pacquiao is scheduled to spar Wednesday, but he said he would do it slowly and maybe start only with a four-round session.
There’s no hurry to make the original adjustments which would have been a must had the Feb. 26 rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez not been scrapped.
Pacquiao, together with American trainer Freddie Roach, appears certain they will not have to do the chasing against Morales, a fierce and courageous competitor.
Said Roach: “Marquez is a boxer, but Morales is a fighter. I’m not worried, that will be to our advantage.”
Morales’ willingness to mix it up is clearly the reason why Pacquiao has started to be excited about the showdown, described by HBO as a riveting, historic match-up.
“Both fighters attack immediately, put pressure on their opponents and fire blistering punches,” said the release issued by Top Rank.
“Morales and Pacquiao have been in many thrilling championship battles and are recognized by many as the two top action fighters in any weight class.”
So far, there has been no significant change in the odds quoted at the betting windows in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, highly favored, said he would be glad if the odds would become even come fight time.
“Basta ako todo laban ko para sa Pilipinas at sa pamilya ko,” he said.
