MANILA, Philippines – No more basketball. No more road trips. No more appointments.
For the next two weeks, it will all be boxing, boxing and boxing for Manny Pacquiao.
The Filipino superstar arrived in Los Angeles yesterday morning (Manila time) and starting today will train harder than ever, from early morning to mid-afternoon, in preparation for his Nov. 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito.
Before boarding the plane to LA, Pacquiao said he?s 90 percent ready for the fight but wished that he could work more on his speed.
He?ll have two weeks to do that at the Wild Card Gym which will be closed down from noon until 5 p.m. to enable Pacquiao to concentrate on his training. Only those with business of being there will be allowed in.
And by the time they head for Texas on Nov. 8, Monday of fight week, Pacquiao should be in his sharpest form as he climbs the ring to face an opponent bigger than anyone he?d faced and beaten before.
?He knows that when we get to LA, it?s gonna be a different ball game. There are no excuses there are no outside distractions no appointments,? said Alex Ariza, the conditioning guru.
Pacquiao vowed to do everything to win this fight. ?Gagawin ko lahat,? he said.
The Filipino icon, based on reports, has a guaranteed purse of $15 million for this fight, and once everything comes in, according to his promoter, Bob Arum, he?d be richer by $22 million to $25 million.
Arum said Margarito is guaranteed $3 million and could earn as much as $6 million.
Freddie Roach owns the Wild Card Gym. He?s the boss. He will call the shots. He will run the sho
