Earlier tonight WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and his team arrived into Los Angeles at the LAX airport to embark on the final phase of training for their encounter with ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. Pacquiao meets the former five-time champion at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 7th in the biggest fight thus far in 2011.
While the fighter’s trainer, Freddie Roach, could be found talking to reporters and interacting with a sea of supporters, Pacquiao himself didn’t appear to be on the scene. It looks as though the Filipino champion may have once again devised somewhat of an escape route to ensure that he didn’t get caught up in the madness of his ever-adoring fans.
<--- Slideshow: Freddie Roach spotted at LAX but Pacquiao's a no-show
That was just the case a few months back when Pacquiao arrived at the airport to kick off his press tour for his date with Mosley, as he, along with his advisor Michael Koncz and a few others, apparently pulled a Houdini by taking an alternate route to his confines in L.A. Pacquiao’s star status has become so huge that his every action seems to be an event in itself, all the more reason for him to want some solitude at times.
But in the grand scheme of things this isn’t really news at all. The important part is that Pacquiao and his team have landed safely and have about four solid weeks of training left for the Mosley fight. Pacquiao will resume his regimen at the Wild Card Boxing Club, a facility that seems to have an almost calming effect on him for each of his fights.
Our friend and welterweight hopeful Rashad Holloway has been in the gym over the past few months and claims that he has never seen such talent sparring so hard inside of the building. Pacquiao definitely will be able to find his share of work as the Mosley fights inches closer.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
