WBA regular welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is ready to enter the most crucial stage of his training for his coming fight with American ?super? 147-pound belt-owner Keith Thurman set July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
?Manny?s 80 percent prepared to move into the next phase of our program chief trainer Buboy Fernandez pronounced on Thursday, two days before Team Pacquiao flies to Los Angeles where the build up program will resume following a three-week camp in Manila.
Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, though, had a more modest assessment of the eight-division world titlist?s status, saying, ?Manny?s 70 percent in shape to undergo a more rigorous procedure in his preparations.?
Advertisements ?Yeah, he?s more than ready,? Fortune assured in a separate interview with this writer before enplaning to LA that day ahead of the team to pave the way for training n at the Wild Card Gym of consultant Freddie Roach in Hollywood.
?Whether it?s 80 percent or 70 percent doesn?t matter. They?re only numbers, anyway. Fact is, Manny?s ready to move on to the next step.? he said chuckling.
Fortune explained that what makes the training regimen harder is it will concentrate more on muscle and stamina building that will include running the mountainous Griffith Park, which has been Pacquiao?s favorite place for his roadwork.
?You know Manny, he really loves scaling Griffith whenever he?s in LA. That?s where he gets his additional strength,? Buboy butted in.
?Kung si Rocky Marciano ay nagpuputol ng puno kapag nagte-train noong nabubuhay pa siya, si Manny tumatakbo sa bundok,? Buboy said with a loud laugh.
Buboy, likewise clarified that while the boxing aspect of training has been properly addressed at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Manila, the volume in sparring will definitely be increased.
?As we?ve been saying, Manny?s already regained his hand and speed and footwork. He, too, has taken back his punching power,? he said. We?ll be improving on them, of course. And polish on things that still need to be refined.?
Another aspects of the program that needs attention is to equip Pacquiao of the strategies and tactics that will fit Thurman?s style of fighting, which Fortune said Roach can be helpful.
?This particular fight will be a tactical fight that needs the right strategies we hope Freddie can provide,? Fortune said. ?Freddie?s been in the business for decades. He?s not a seven-time Trainer of the Year for nothing.?
