Three weeks before the big fight, Manny Pacquiao braces for a hard week of training on the road and in the gym in Cebu before leaving for Los Angeles this weekend for the final grind for his Oct. 6 duel with Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao jogged around the Cebu IT Park with younger brother Bobby and Mexican sparring partners David Rodela and Raymundo Beltran for about 30 minutes, battled Rodela and others in a sprinting race before winding down in the exercise mat yesterday morning.
Noted American trainer Freddie Roach said he is satisfied with the progress on Pacquiao?s training, describing his prized ward as a ?much better fighter defensively? with even better head movements, great footwork and faster reflexes,? according to Philboxing.com.
Pacquiao, eyeing to make it two in a row over Barrera, whom he demolished with a sensational 11th round TKO win at the Alamodome in 2003, wraps up his Cebu training Thursday before leaving for Manila on Friday.
Jake Joson, Pacquiao?s chief-of-staff, told Philboxing.com that a press conference, organized by Solar Sports, will be held Friday with no less than Pacquiao in attendance.
The Filipino boxing icon will then wind up his training at the Wild Card gym in BF Homes, Sucat before leaving for the US on Saturday aboard a PAL flight to Los Angeles.
Roach has described Pacquiao as ?a better fighter today than when he first fought Barrera and is a better fighter than he was in his last fight? against previously undefeated Jorge Solis whom he knocked out in the eighth round.
He added that Pacquiao can ?definitely become one of the greatest fighters of all-time? even as he pointed out that his ward is still learning and wants to learn more.
?We?ll show Barrera a few new moves,? said Roach.
