Philippines, 19 Feb 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao Finds New Boxing Elixir; Fight Against Vargas Most Difficult


PhilBoxing.com




MANILA -- THERE are times when we have to drag ourselves to wake up in the morning to start the day off heading out to work. Monotonous, drudging and uneventful, the daily repetition coupled by the morning rush hour traffic, could truly test one's will, not to mention aching bodies...

Not on a typical Manny Pacquiao day:

On his second session of sparring against an unbeaten prospect and a local veteran Thursday night, Pacquiao was a new kind of an elemental fighter. He was virtually untouched, calculating, dangerous but forgiving enough not to punish his partners in the ring. Not this early yet.

But what drives the NEW "Pacman," who, despite being rich, famous, well-loved, admired, powerful and more, has found a resurgence of sorts?

He starts his day jogging, sometimes even drenched by the light drizzle, characteristic of Manila's September mornings. When monsoon rains come a-pouring, he has to improvise or call off training sessions in the morning and double-up in the afternoon.

He probably has more offices and work loads than most of us combined and despite having only 24 hours a day to fit everything in, he has thus far successfully juggled everything with much success.

He used to be a full-time boxer, period, and part-time this or part-time that. Now, he is a full-time Senator of the Philippines, a full-time father and a full-time servant of God.

His fight against welterweight champion Jessie Vargas of the United States is no picnic either and has turned out to be one of the most difficult. In terms of sacrificing for a fight, this one looks like a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle and a nightmare for his appointments secretary. Doing things simultaneously has made this fight hard and taxing. Sometimes, he finishes training sessions at past 10 PM, signs autographs for fans who keep on queueing up, before he could step into a makeshift dining table inside the gym. His entourage would still have to weave through traffic and call it a day before midnight, preparing once again for the next day, and the next...

He is no longer young. At 37, he could very well be considered as the grand daddy of the sport. In terms of boxing "mileage," he is an overworked veteran of 66 fights, fighting at an average of three fights a year going into his 22nd year of boxing. Imagine driving a 2003 model sedan with a 400,000 kilometer mileage on your engine: That could very well be a good comparison to Pacquiao's condition, including the bumps and dents and cuts, and yes, days in the repair shop.

Pacquiao has just recently gone under the knife, repairing a torn rotator cuff only last year, right after he fought Floyd Mayweather using virtually one effective left hand with no significant right hook or a jab to boot.

Always looking for an exciting fight, his style of boxing has endeared him to fans the world over. By opting to make the match into your phone-booth type, end-of-your-seat and nail-biting affair, he would go on a prowl and mix it up, go for the kill, rather than get into a boring encounter directly the opposite of Mr. Defensive Fighter of the Year's style.

More or less, he has sparred with more than 400 boxers of all shapes and sizes and styles and nationalities: bigger, faster, stronger, taller, smaller, slugger, amateurish, wild, disrespectful, ugly, stinky and hairy, among many others. Throughout his career, his boxing intelligence quotient has continued to grow immensely so, learning and maturing in every battle.

He took the Vargas fight because of his love for the sport and that the American fighter has taken his old WBO welterweight belt. Pacquiao believes he can still give something to the sport.

"I think I still have more to show (in the sport). I feel great, energized and inspired," said Pacquiao, Friday after hitting the mitts with long-time trainer Freddie Roach, who just came in three days ago from the United States.

His was an understatement, if one had to ask Roach or assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, who have directly felt the brute power of Pacquiao's punches. Both Roach and Fernandez agree: Pacquiao has upped the oomph in his punches. "Tumatagos sa mitts, manginginig ang buong katawan mo. Hindi ganyan ang lakas niya dati," said Fernandez, who has been with Pacquiao for the longest time as kids roaming in the streets of General Santos City.

Personally, having been with the Fighting Senator from Sarangani province for more than a decade and a half, the decibels of his gloves meeting the heavy punching bag has truly gone a notch up. And this is the same guy, the Senator, who has wore a suit, a different wardrobe just a few hours ago.

During one of those "hard" training days, he had to go jogging at 10 AM because the rains came earlier. He skipped noontime siesta in order to catch a Senate session involving an apparent witness into EJKs or extra-judicial killings. On those days, he would try his best to gather, interpolate and search for the truth from an apparent confessed mass murderer and get kudos for not just stepping into the plate but one who has come out slugging. On other days, he would join other Senate committees wherein he is not just a member, but a very active Senator.

He finishes the day in secret, reading the bible before he sleeps at night, a 180-degree turnaround from his being carefree. This time, his days, divided into hours and minutes, are spent well. Quality time for a doting father and a public servant as well as a servant of God.

Pacquiao has not changed much since. He is still that young kid eager to show his new toy to everyone. His demeanor is now more subdued, as he shows off his new gadgets: a pair of fists, exclusive and limited edition, probably one of the most pricey pair of fists available out there.

At the end of the day, Pacquiao does find joy and satisfaction in serving his fans, his constituents and his God, a newfound elixir that has brought his career to new highs.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING IN FULL HD "RIYADH SEASON'S THE LAST CRESCENDO" ARTUR BETERBIEV vs. DMITRY BIVOL 2
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • Brothers on warpath
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • All Star Boxing Kicks off March 7th in Managua
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • World Boxing’s Executive Board approves six new applications from Kosovo, Syria, Hungary, Malawi, Estonia and Switzerland to take its membership to 78 countries
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces 2025 Women’s Elite High Performance Team Roster
    , Wed, 19 Feb 2025
  • Avious Griffin For WBC Title Headlines Club Boxings return to NYC Thursday Night in Times Square.
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Canelo vs. Crawford: A Deep Dive into the Tactics, Strengths, and Potential Outcomes of the Mega-Fight
    By T. Chin-Te, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Diosdado Posadas: Call me Speedy
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Sadam Ali/World Kid Promotions’ “The Return” Postponed
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • FAELDONIA CHESS TEAM DOMINATES SIBUYAN OPEN TOURNAMENT
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Dutch Boxing Federation accepted as IBA provisional member
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of undefeated prospect VeShawn Champion
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • VIC MANUEL, MIKE TOLOMIA LEAD VALIENTES PAST BENILDE IN SIBUGAY INVITATIONAL
    , Tue, 18 Feb 2025
  • IM Chito Danilo Garma rules 5th AQ Prime Standard Open chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Ryan Clark defeats Ross Rodriguez in Old-fashioned barnburner fight
    , Mon, 17 Feb 2025
  • Vince Paras Secures Impressive TKO Victory in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Concio unbeaten for IIEE Quezon to advance to Finals of PTC-WED
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • OSCAR "LA MIGRAÑA" DUARTE HANDS MIGUEL "EXPLOSIVO" MADUEÑO HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT LOSS TO CLAIM WBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • US Olympics Silver Medalist Nabs Pro "Gold"; Keyshawn Davis Wins WBO Crown by Knockout
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Roy Jones Jnr and Israil Madrimov Break Down Canelo-Crawford Fight
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • April 5: Heavyweight Titans Richard Torrez Jr. & Guido Vianello to Collide at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas LIVE on ESPN+
    , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Cleveland, OKC Keep Lead But Old Vets Dominate All Stars Squads
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • IM Garma notches third win in 5th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Feb 2025
  • Business Handled: Keyshawn Davis Crushes Denys Berinchyk in Four to Capture Lightweight Crown
    , Sat, 15 Feb 2025
  • Secret is never retire
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sat, 15 Feb 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.