Freddie Roach and Justin Fortune agree that this is the most motivated they?ve seen Manny Pacquiao in some time.
Their job is to make sure he saves some of that fire for the colossal showdown May 2 against Floyd Mayweather at MGM Grand Arena.
The WBC, WBO and WBA (super world) welterweight titles will be on the line.
Fortune, Pacquiao?s strength and conditioning coach, said that?s the difficult part.
?We?re trying to slow him down,? Fortune said Wednesday from the Wild Card Boxing Club. ?He?s very motivated and he wants to go, go, go and I?ve had to tell him to pull back.?
Fortune was with Pacquiao through his early rise to fame. After a disagreement with Roach several years ago, he returned last year.
?I haven?t seen him this motivated since the first (Juan Manuel) Marquez fight, when he was making a name for himself and he wasn?t as big,? Fortune said.
One key addition to camp, Fortune said has been the agility work.
?Agility and more plyometrics,? Fortune said. ?Movement is everything. You can?t stay flat-footed in front of Floyd, or anybody for that matter.?
Roach said Pacquiao weighed 144 pounds Tuesday. He joked that he has to ?feed him five times a day to keep weight on him.?
?In two weeks, he could probably make 140,? Fortune said. ?That?s how ridiculous his metabolism is. First time I?ve had to tell a fighter to eat some more food.?
Aside from being motivated, Roach said he sees a new level of confidence in Pacquiao.
?His attitude is very different for this fight,? Roach said. ?I?ve never seen him really work this hard. His speed is faster. His punches are harder. He?s really looking good and I?m happy where he is right now.?
Roach said Pacquiao is also watching old Mayweather videos in preparation for the fight.
?He?s never watched tape of any fight,? Roach said. ?He?s always left that to me.?
