MANNY PACQUIAO insists that by the time he arrives at the doorsteps of Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Boxing Club on Vine St. in Hollywood, California, in the first week of January, he won?t be carrying ?extra luggage.?
But those in the know are beginning to express concern regarding Pacquiao?s devil-may-care attitude while he is in the country.
“I don?t think Pacquiao will be able to recover from the damage his body is going to take the next few days,” a jaded fight personality who requested not to be named told the Bulletin.
“It?s really alarming because instead of taking it easy during the holidays, Manny continues to spend the night playing pool. In fact, if I were to place a bet, I will put the rent money on Marquez,” he added.
Even Pacquiao?s American trainer Freddie Roach is fully aware that the Mexican who almost beat Pacquiao the first time they met last May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has already started high altitude training in the outskirts of Mexico City in preparation for the rematch set Feb. 26 probably in Las Vegas.
Barely a week after he celebrated his 26th birthday, Pacquiao spent the wee hours of the morning playing billiards and even tong-its (card game), sources told the Bulletin.
If Pacquiao reunites with Roach on January 5, he will only have less than eight weeks to train hard for Marquez, who battled him to a 12-round split draw that a lot of experts believed should have been a victory for the crafty Mexican.
Roach, who called the shots during Pacquiao?s sensational fourth-round knockout over Fahsan 3K Battery last Dec. 11, had earlier urged Pacquiao to head back to the States before the New Year so they can immediately get the ball rolling.
