Manny Pacquiao tipped the scales at 146 lbs yesterday then assured everyone that there shouldn?t be any problem in his preparation for the June 28 fight against David Diaz.
The 29-year-old boxer, who shoots for a fourth world title in different divisions when he faces Diaz at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, talked about the coming fight and his training schedule.
He weighed 146 lbs, with clothes on before he climbed the ring at the Wild Card Gym in Para?aque. With still 55 days before the fight, he sees no problem at all making the 135 lb limit.
Pacquiao kicked off his training in Gen. Santos City Thursday. He was in Manila Friday morning, honored some commitments and worked out at the gym owned by his former business manager Rod Nazario in the evening.
?I will be back in Gen. Santos on Monday and train there until Friday. I?m leaving for Los Angeles on Saturday evening but in the afternoon I will train here,? said Pacquiao.
He arrives in LA on May 10, a Saturday, and should report to Freddie Roach at the Wild Car Gym in Hollywood on Monday. He said sparring can begin after one week, and sees 120 rounds at least.
He said it doesn?t matter to him if Diaz had the head-start in training as the reigning WBC lightweight champion started working out last April 19 at the JAB Gym in Chicago, his hometown.
?He didn?t suffer a cut in his last fight that?s why he was able to train earlier. But I?m not late either. With seven weeks in LA and a week here everything is just fine,? he said.
?I?m not taking anything for granted. Hindi ako nag-pabaya sa sarili ko. I know I have to be one hundred percent ready for Diaz. I may be faster but I cannot be over-confident.?
Pacquiao said Diaz is not the champion for nothing.
?We cannot underestimate his capabilities,? said the reigning WBC super-featherweight champion who has decided to move up in weight after beating Juan Manuel Marquez last April 15.
Pacquiao was wrapping up the one-hour session when his 86-year-old grandmother, whom he fondly calls ?Lola Tina,? arrived at the gym with the boxer?s wife Jinkee at around two in the afternoon.
Pacquiao paused momentarily to greet his grandmother who was given a ringside seat. The boxer went back to in-house trainer Ericsson Asilo and later on called it a day.
After a quick lunch of ?kare-kare? and rice, Pacquiao enjoyed some moments with friends like Nazario, Gerry Garcia and Moi Laines before leaving the gym for another commitment.
He was scheduled to fly to Cebu last night to watch Rodel Mayol in action against a Thai opponent.
