Manny Pacquiao arrived in Cebu the other night where he is set to step up his much-maligned preparations for his next fight in Las Vegas.
The 28-year-old Pacquiao arrived in Cebu together with Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, comedian-relative Long Mejia and an unidentified aide.
“Mukhang maganda naman ang kundisyon ni Manny. He still seems serious sa preparations n’ya. Sana lang talaga wala siyang maging distractions dito sa training,” said close friend Rex “Wakee” Salud in a long-distance telephone interview with BusinessMirror.
Pacquiao will battle Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao beat Barrera in their initial encounter by scoring a brutal 11th-round technical knockout victory in November 2003 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Pacquiao is again being criticized by boxing experts, as well as even his most avid fans for disregarding for the first time his ever-effective training session in the United States.
“Mas maganda na dito mag-ensayo kasi mainit ang panahon kaya mas madaling pawisan dito,” said Pacquiao when BusinessMirror caught up with him Tuesday afternoon at the Wild Card Gym in Sucat, Para?aque.
In the same interview Pacquiao claims their decision to train in Cebu is part of their strategy of not giving the Barrera camp any chance of spying on them.
Pacquiao will be staying at the posh Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.
Yesterday was Pacquiao’s third day of training after he unexpectedly came back Sunday morning from a short trip in the United States where he attended the press conference of his fight with Barrera late last week in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Barrera is reportedly satisfied with his training camp in Guadalajara, Mexico.
A report published by Mexican paper Esto said Barrera is tapping the services of three Japanese fighters led by national champion Takahiro Aoh.
Aoh’s style is said to be similar with that of Pacquiao.
“We contacted Takahiro and he already accepted our invitation. I will start our sparring session with him by next week,” said Barrera in the report.
Another Japanese sparring partner is lightweight Yoshimitsu Yashiro while the third one is still to be named.
Barrera’s Japan contact is longtime Japanese trainer Sendai Tanaka who was also given assistance by top Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda.
Barrera is now working on his stamina by running five kilometers a day at the Colomos park in Mexico.
