How would Manny Pacquiao rate his readiness for his scheduled 12-round super featherwieght title bout against Mexican slugger Marco Antonio Barrera?
?I?m still between eight and nine right now,? declared Pacquiao, using a scale of one to 10.
Pacquiao, who was sidelined for two days by flu, has now entered the final month of his preparation for the much-awaited bout with the Mexican on Oct. 7 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He promised though that he could achieve a perfect ten (of readiness) come the day when he will try once again his tenacity on the ring.
?But having a perfect 10 is still doable before the final week of my training. Basta iniisip ko na lang na mabigyan ng magandang laban ang mga tao,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao, as prone to illness just like anybody, declared that he has already regained his fighting form. He said he will continue his rigorous roadwork and hard training, even punishing his sparring partner David Rodela with devastating blows to send a strong message to the vaunted Team Mexico.
Aside from his usual hard work and conditioning, Pacquiao said he is also working with his trainer, Freddie Roach, to further enhance his new set of combinations. Though those weapons are guaranteed to be lethal, he said his fierce enemy will not be the noted Mexican slugger, but himself.
?In the end, sarili ko pa din ang kalaban ko dito. Basta hindi pa din ako maaring magkukumpyansa. Pahihirapan ko pa din ang sarili ko sa ensayo,? said Pacquaio, who was not even thinking of he fact that he had floored Barrera in the 11th round of their 2003 bout.
And starting today, his preparation will be elevated a notch higher as Roach starts to impose a close-door training where fans and curious bystanders will be temporarily banned inside what Pacquiao described as ?oven-hot? Rex ?Wakee? Salud Gym in Cebu.
Julius Manicad
The prolific Roach said this is their way to keep the People?s Champ away from unnecessary distractions, especially now that they discovered that Barrera is showing signs of consistency with his cheap body shots and head buts.
?We?re going to step up our training a little bit. We?re also going to raise the rounds in his sparring to 10 to 12 rounds,? Roach said.
Pacquiao heads back to Roach?s Wild Card Gym on Sept. 24 for the final phase of his training before the taper-off at the end of the month.
