FILIPINO boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is hoping and praying that it will be God?s will for him to win in his upcoming rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico.
This was what the 28-year-old Pacquiao revealed to those present inside the executive room of the Wild Card Gym in Para?aque Saturday afternoon moments after his three-hour session ended.
?Ginawa ko na ang lahat ng sakripisyo para sa paghahanda ko sa laban na ito. Diyos na ang bahala para ibigay sa akin ang panalo,? said Pacquiao, while consuming fried chicken and a cup of rice.
In the rematch dubbed ?Will to Win,? Pacquiao and Barrera are set to battle for the second time on October 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
?Grabe itong linggong ito. Biro mo dalawang 12-round sparring pinagdaanan ko,? added Pacquiao. ?Basta lahat ibibigay ko para manalo ako.?
A devout Catholic, Pacquiao never fails to hear Mass before and after his bouts.
?Pati kalaban niya ipinagdarasal niya na huwag magkaroon ng injury. Ganoon ka-religious si Manny,? Pacquiao?s former associate Moy Lainez told BusinessMirror ?Pati sa pagkain, kami nga sumusubo na siya nagdarasal pa.?
Since he started fighting under the care of former manager, Malabon-based construction businessman Polding Correa, Pacquiao always wears a rosary when entering the ring, which, according to Lainez, was given to him by his mother Dionisia.
?Buong pamilya nila Manny talagang relihiyoso. Ang nanay niya nagdarasal na lang imbes na panuorin ang laban ni Manny,? added Lainez. ?Talagang hindi pakitang-tao ?yung pagdarasal niya dahil ganyan na talaga si Manny nu?ng nagsisimula pa lang.?
Meanwhile, Pacquiao said he is just a few pounds over the super-featherweight limit of 130 lbs, a fact that doesn?t come as a surprise to experts as the Filipino boxer is believed to be a natural featherweight.
?Sino ang gustong pumusta sa timbang ko? 132 lbs na lang ako ngayon,? was what Pacquiao said, alluding to hints that weight will be a concern for his upcoming bout.
In preparing for a major bout, Pacquiao discarded the Wild Card Gym of his famed trainer Freddie Roach located in Hollywood California for the first time in his career.
This time, Pacquiao was joined by Roach at the RWS Gym in Cebu since August 15, a move which eventually earned the approval of the American mentor.
?It was a concern at first. But anywhere in the world just give me a gym and Manny will be fine,? said Roach ?You can?t say anything bad about Manny when he starts training.?
Even regular sparring partner David Rodela liked what he saw in their training camp in Cebu.
?He was so at home and you can see the smile on his face that he really enjoyed his training here in the Philippines,? said Rodela. ?It is important for fighters to feel good about training. It was really hot all the time but on the contrary it made Manny shed excess pounds quite easily.?
Rodela himself enjoyed the training camp in Cebu. Now, he is looking forward to fighting in the Philippines sometime in December. The Mexican-American is being offered a fight versus current International Boxing Federation Pan-Pacific lightweight champion Ranee Ganoy in a major card to be held at the Araneta Coliseum.
?That will be great. I will be ready for that fight. The timing is perfect. After the fight I can celebrate with Manny during his birthday,? added Rodela.
Pacquiao will turn 29 on December 17.
