“Labang-laban na ako! [I?m ready to fight!]”
Thus declared Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday after his second-to-the-last workout before taking on the challenge of Oscar Larios on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Tapering off after nearly two months of hard preparation, Pacquiao was all smiles as he did his light training at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex after early jogging along Roxas Boulevard.
“He?s really ready to go. You can see it yourself,” said his American trainer Freddie Roach after Pacquiao hit the heavy and speed bags, did the boxing mitts with him and capped the workout by skipping rope.
“Pag nakatawa ?yan alam mong nasa kondisyon si Manny. Kung hindi, makikita mong nakasimangot [When Manny smiles, you know he?s in condition. If not, you?d see him frown],” noted veteran boxing man Lito Mondejar, who witnessed the closed-door training.
And if Larios won?t be dazzled by Pacquiao?s fighting style on Sunday, he might just take a second look at the flashy new sneakers that the hometown favorite will be wearing inside the ring.
Pacquiao wore a colorful pair of size 8 white Mizuno shoes to the workout, complete with gold sequins and red trimmings, which he said he was breaking in. Each shoe also had his complete name stitched on its side.
“This pair was given to me by my Japanese friend when I went to Tokyo. They were custom-made. I?m breaking them in and I intend to use them on Sunday,” said Pacquiao, who usually wears Pony boxing shoes for his fights.
Pacquiao and Larios were scheduled to have a press conference Thursday at the Discovery Suites, the official residence of the boxers, although the Filipino fighter and his trainer have been staying at the Manila Hotel since they arrived from the United States on June 20.
“We?re thinking if we should shift our hotel since the press conference and the weigh-in [on Saturday] will also be at the Discovery Suites. But we?ve been comfortable where we are. Manny has been sleeping well at the Manila Hotel and I don?t want to throw him off by changing hotels,” Roach said.
“Ultimately, Manny?s the boss. He decides if we stay or leave. But if it were me, I?d prefer staying where we are right now,” he added.
Before leaving for lunch, Pacquiao, who is the co-promoter of the fight with TV network ABS-CBN, disclosed that he had sorted out the seating arrangements for print mediamen who will cover the fight.
ABS-CBN reportedly had wanted most of the sportswriters and photographers to be seated in the upper box of the Big Dome, not near ringside as what is usually done in big fights.
“Ginawan ko na nang paraan kahapon [Tuesday]. Everything will be OK,” he said.
