There have been times in the past that celebrated trainer Freddie Roach said he would lock down his Wild Card Gym when his prized possession, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao was training. But, more often than not it didn?t happen because Pacquiao, the congressman from Sarangani Province in the Philippines likes people to be around when he trains. Its his nature for someone who cares for people. He is never prone to turning away families who drive for hours just to get to the gym to see their hero train and hopefully get a photo with him or if they are more than lucky, an autograph.
But as the renowned Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Dwyre reports, Pacquiao has ?found peace, order and room to breathe at the same place where he had previously trained amid chaos, sweat and near-stifling claustrophobia.? Dwyre who visited Sarangani province with a group of other prominent American journalists when Pacquiao campaigned f or congress and won handsomely the second time around said ?The truth is, he liked the old Wild Card Gym. He has always been surrounded by people, even sleeping in rooms with six or seven of his friends scattered around on couches and chairs. He is the Philippines congressman from the province of Sarangani.
He is a man of the people, and his very existence has always dictated having hordes of them around him.? Things have suddenly changed as the ?Fight of the Century? is less than a month away and as Dwyre reports the area near the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vine Street ?has been rid of many of the hangers-on and sycophants who made being with Manny their main occupation.? ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Casstillejo who is back in Los Angeles to cover the run-up to the May 2 showdown told boxingmirror.com that there?s no way she or any other media people, especially those with cameras or cellphones can enter the gym.
Pacquiao never complained about the crowded gym but as the renowned Bill Dwyre reports ? Recently, common sense prevailed?. This means Pacquiao trains downstairs in quiet, and guarded, space, below the chaos. After all these years, it?s a little jarring just to be there. You can talk to somebody and actually hear the answers. The pictures on the wall are even straight.? As he sparred a total of 29 rounds the past week, no media were allowed in to watch Pacquiao spar and as reporter Castillejo, a veteran on the Pacquiao beat informed us no more media interviews for Pacquiao who, because of his charisma and humility is the eye of the media storm created around the mega-fight. Pacquiao has said all he wants to say and has himself appealed for understanding as he focuses on training and gets some much needed rest.
Strength and conditioning coach Akex Ariza who has found a place in Team Mayweather after being ousted by Roach told boxingmirror.com that Floyd is in great shape, trains very hard and makes sure he gets enough rest. Roach is working on a strategy to hopefully beat Mayweather. The basic plan is to not get caught in the pocket where Mayweather is often at his best but rather to pin Floyd on the ropes where he can unleash his deadly combinations while at the same time watching out for Mayweather?s straight right hand counter which is his most telling weapon. Roach admits some of Mayweather?s right hands will break through the defense of Pacquiao but that Mayweather?s left jab to the body isn?t a danger but more of an opportunity for Pacquiao to rip through with his power punching left hand. Pacquiao insists he is not nervous and wishes the fight will be tomorrow because, as he told Katie Couric in a recent interview, ?God will deliver him to my hand so I can beat him.?
