Conditioning coach Justin Fortune has been dispatched by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach to check on Sen. Manny Pacquiao and the Los Angeles-based Australian wasn?t surprised with what he had seen the last two days.
?Manny?s always comes to training camp in great shape and that?s what I saw,? Fortune told the Bulletin yesterday afternoon before presiding over another workout with the Filipino legend getting ready to face Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas.
Fortune feels that Vargas is someone not to be taken for granted being the reigning World Boxing Organization welter king.
But Pacquiao and Vargas are still not worthy of being mentioned on the same breath, said Fortune.
?There is Manny Pacquiao and there is Jessie Vargas. Pacquiao is a Triple AAA fighter, while Jessie is just an A fighter.?
?He?s not an elite fighter like Pacquiao, (Juan Manuel) Marquez and (Erik) Morales,? added Fortune, whose first stint as Pacquiao?s strength coach was from 2003 until 2007 before making a comeback a few years ago.
Roach will be coming in this Sunday with unbeaten Jose Ramirez, who will serve as sparring partner for the next four weeks.
Team Pacquiao will relocate to the US on Oct. 20 or 22 for the final phase of the buildup at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
The last time Pacquiao fought in April, the 37-year-old eight-division titleholder mauled bitter rival Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand.
Meanwhile, Vargas, 27, told ESPN Deportes that Pacquiao doesn?t give him the creeps.
?Manny no me soprende y no me asusta (Manny does not surprise me and not scare me),? said Vargas, the heavy underdog in the scheduled 12-round battle at the Thomas and Mack Center.
