THE VOICE on the other line did not sound as if he had just gotten out of a 100-round sparring session at one of America?s toughest boxing gyms although it almost felt like it.
Instead of hearing him call out in a pained voice, the fellow who called in from across the Pacific gave the impression that he was ready for more.
Manny Pacquiao told the Bulletin yesterday he worked out for “12 hard rounds”, including six rounds with an overweight Russian lightweight and three each with two others as the Filipino?s training intensified with two weeks left before he gets the chance at redemption in Las Vegas.
“I am really doing well,” said Pacquiao, who collides with Erik “El Terrible” Morales of Mexico at the Thomas and Mack Center on Jan. 21.
“Grabe ang ensayo ko ngayon,” said Pacquiao, who could no longer count how many rounds he had sparred since he began banging bodies at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in early-December.
Despite the pounding he took, Pacquiao sounded energized and was in an upbeat mood during a talk with this writer.
“Tinitiis ko ang hirap sa ensayo dahil alam kong mabigat ang laban,” said the 27-year-old southpaw whose idea of relaxation after a hard day?s work is to burn DVDs in his brand-new laptop and send e-mails to friends in the Philippines.
According to the fighter, arguably the country?s most recognizable face, he will have his last sparring session on Jan. 16, the day he leaves for Las Vegas with his entourage in tow.
“When I get to Vegas, I think I will no longer spar but will continue to train,” said Pacquiao, who will be billeted at the Wynn Resort and Casino.
But before he could think about the luxurious amenities at the .7 billion hotel that is the newest eye-catcher on the Las Vegas strip, Pacquiao was quick to realize that his sacrifices are not yet over.
“Bukas naman ay takbo sa bundok ang ensayo sa umaga,” he added, referring to his thrice-a-week trip to Griffth Park.
As for Morales, who is also in the thick of preparations in Queretaro, Mexico, he downplayed the observation by Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach that he could lose by knockout.
“After having fought him, I don?t think he can knock me out. I am going to take risks and improvise a little bit depending on how the fight develops,” Morales told the leading website fightnews.com.
Morales also took time out to assail some members of Pacquiao?s team for “talking too much.”
“They say they?re going to be more aggressive. Well, good luck to them. The problem is they have me in front of them and I don?t back down. They talk and talk. Let?s see if they can execute all those things they talk about,” said Morales, a 5-7 underdog.
“I don?t think about losing. If I lose, it will be because Pacquiao really was better than me or because God just didn?t want me to win the fight. I am really well-prepared and I will not be losing.”
