IS he serious?
Better be because I am.
I refer to Freddie Roach?s reported offer of a thousand bucks going to Manny Pacquiao?s pocket for every PacMan sparring mate that suffers a knockdown during actual sparring.
If the sparring mate falls three times, PacMan gets $3,000. ?I am doing this to spur Manny to train really hard for the fight,? said Roach. ?This is also more for bringing back his killer instinct than anything.?
Roach told Examiner.com this formula after Pacquiao arrived at Freddie?s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California, this week.
As we all know, Pacquiao, in a change of heart, decided to train three weeks in Gen. Santos City instead of his original plan to spend the entire training session in Los Angeles.
Pacquiao didn?t give any concrete reason for the training change, but to pundits here and overseas, the move was political in nature.
In case you still don?t know it, Pacquiao is seeking re-election as representative of the sole district of Sarangani. Although he is unopposed, Pacquiao saw it fit to file his candidacy in person last month. His handlers said that would haul in positive points for the PacMan.
Also, Jinkee, Pacquiao?s wife, is running for vice governor of Sarangani. Again, although she is also unopposed, Jinkee needs her hubby in some politically-motivated encounters with folk to sweeten the political climate.
And now this: Rogelio, Pacquiao?s brother, is also gunning for a congressional seat. It is a major move, albeit a crucial one as Rogelio?s foe is Pacquiao?s conqueror in the 2007 polls.
Is Pacquiao seeking revence through his brother?
Obviously, Roach is aware of all this so that, well, he has to devise a way to draw Manny away from all the political maneuverings while they cram for training in the run-up to the Dec. 9 (PHL Time) fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.
Actually, the money ruse is nothing and all Roach wants to attain in his ?knockdown? caper is for Pacquiao to see the wisdom behind it.
It could yet be the key for a Pacquiao victory by knockout.
