HE STAYED up late to attend the premiere showing of the movie about his life. And he complained of too much distractions inside the gym.
These things obviously bothered Manny Pacquiao during his first sparring session in the country yesterday and the visibly irked champ refused to hide his disappointment.
“Jet lag,” was all Pacquiao said in response to queries by the media about his so-so sparring performance against Russian lightweight Rustam Nugaev.
American trainer Freddie Roach articulated it better, saying that the champ was forced to stay late during the movie screening of the “Manny Pacquiao Story” which started two hours behind schedule at 9 p.m.
“We got back to the hotel (Manila Hotel) close to midnight and Manny had to wake up early this morning for the roadwork,” said Roach. “But Manny still looked good when he wanted to, though you could see him struggling a bit because he is a little tired.”
Pacquiao, who will put his career on the line against Mexican Oscar Larios on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, pushed through with his jogging routine along Roxas Boulevard early yesterday morning.
From there he continued his usual training regimen capped by the six-round sparring at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with the Russian, who arrived with him from the United States Tuesday.
“From now on, no more movies, no more appearances and hopefully no more distractions,” said Roach. “But you’ll never know with Manny Pacquiao.”
“Wild Card rules will be enforced tomorrow (today),” said Rob Peters, Pacquiao’s chief security at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Larios is set to plane in from Japan on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is expected to spend millions from his fight purse just to accommodate friends, freeloaders and fans who want to get a piece of the July 2 action.
Among those who have called up Pacquiao to ask for free tickets were politicians, billiards and cockfighting buddies and relatives of close associates. With a report from Salven Lagumbay.
