Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, who is calling the shots under the new two-year management contract he signed with Shelly Finkel, has decided to bring in the longtime members of Team Pacquiao in preparation for the explosive war with Erik ?El Terrible? Morales at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 20, Manila time.
Longtime boxing men Moy Lainez, Lito Mondejar and Gerry Garcia were called by Pacquiao to fly over to Los Angeles, assuring them that he would ?take care of everything.?
Mondejar, has been a fixture in Pacquiao?s corner along with Filipino trainer and Pacquiao?s trusted hometown buddy Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez.
A plan to replace ace cut-man and hand wrapper Leny de Jesus with someone from the camp of Oscar de la Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions was nipped in the bud and De Jesus arrived in Los Angeles yesterday after Pacquiao made it clear he wanted De Jesus in his corner.
Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario, who is staying at the Vagabond Inn, which is next to the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach, watched Pacquiao?s workout and said he was impressed.
Nazario said Pacquiao has been ?training hard and is in top-top condition.?
He added: ?Manny didn?t appear tired at all,? after a rigorous workout skipping rope, working on the punch-mitts and the speedball. Nazario disclosed that Pacquiao ?looked sharp? and ready for the stiffest test of his ring career.
International promoter Murad Muhammad also flew in to Los Angeles with Nazario but would leave over the weekend to make sure everything was going well in Las Vegas.
Muhammad disclosed that he was ?impressed and overjoyed? at the commitment of Manny Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart to support Pacquiao and other outstanding Filipino athletes, saying ?this gentleman is proud of your sports heroes, proud of his country and proud of the services his companies offer. That is truly something.?
As the countdown continued, the question being asked was how Morales, who has never fought a southpaw with such a devastating left straight as Pacquiao, deals with it. In the case of Pacquiao, it will be interesting to see how the flamboyant Filipino will handle the biggest fighter he has ever faced.
