AS MANNY Pacquiao starts to ease back into the groove, his battery of trainers are not about to give the Filipino fighter the luxury of relaxation.
Pacquiao’s adviser Joe Ramos said that Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune will be waiting for Pacquiao to show up at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) on Sunday (Monday in Manila), where the boxer is expected to improve on his stamina by scaling the school’s bleachers section.
Fortune had told the Bulletin last week about Pacquiao running up and down the bleachers of UCLA.
“It’s steep,” said Fortune, who is the man in charge at the Wild Card Boxing Club, whenever taskmaster Freddie Roach is away.
Pacquiao is set to return to the ring on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center where he squares off with Hector Velazquez of Mexico in a super-featherweight 12-rounder.
Pacquiao spars on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, days when he only runs at the Pan Pacific Park which Fortune describes as “flats” so he could spar in the afternoon. On Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays, which are non-sparring days, he does his roadwork at the Griffith Park.
In a long-distance conversation with Fortune yesterday, he revealed that “Manny is improving” since showing up for the first time at the gym almost two weeks ago.
He regularly spars with reigning International Boxing Federation superbantam king Israel Vazquez and his trainers are keenly awaiting the arrival of two more sparring partners, including Jose Sta. Cruz.
Ramos also bared that team Pacquiao is in the final stages of holding a public workout on Aug. 31 in a place to be determined soon.
There is a closed-door policy being enforced at the Wild Card. Only select members of Pacquiao’s entourage are given the green light to view the proceedings from 1-3 p.m.
