The voice on the other line on the other side of the planet sounded chirpy and not dreary since he had gone 11 intense rounds of sparring against heftier guys a few hours earlier.
Manny Pacquiao was in a jolly mood as he talked about preparations being made to make sure he gets up the ring in deadly form against David Diaz of the US on June 28.
Minutes after his eight-seater private plane landed in San Francisco Friday night (Saturday morning in Manila), Pacquiao delved on his schedule for the weekend in the Bay Area, where he and Diaz will host a press conference and public workout to further intensify the buzz for their title showdown at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
“Well, my training is going well and I am right on target,” said Pacquiao in straight English, sounding as though he was preparing himself for the deluge of questions that will come his way tomorrow and in the coming weeks.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is presiding over an open training session at the West Wind School in the nearby city of Berkeley where fans of Pacquiao and those of Diaz are expected to come in droves to either have their pictures taken with them or have memorabilia signed.
“I feel great right now and I am going to be in great shape for my fight with David Diaz, who is also doing the same in Chicago,” said Pacquiao, who will spend the night at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
Before leaving Los Angeles, Freddie Roach tapped three sparring partners to bang bodies with the 29-year-old Pacquiao, who will be bidding to break the jinx that has befallen several Filipino boxers going after the world lightweight crown.
Once again, Pacquiao gave Roach a reason to smile as he stood his ground against the bigger guys the 48-year-old cornerman imported from various neighboring Southern California cities and Texas as well.
The mainstays are super-lightweights Steven Quinonez of Palm Springs and Noel Rodriguez of McKinney, Texas.
But starting the coming week, Pacquiao will revert back to the original schedule of sparring every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
“We changed the schedule and made it Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week because of the promotional tour that will happen tomorrow here in San Francisco,” said Pacquiao.
The number of sparring rounds should escalate even further in the next couple of weeks and Pacquiao is confident he will again rise to the challenge.
Diaz, meanwhile, will be joined in the Bay Area promotional tour by his manager-trainer Jim Strickland, training assistant Mike Garcia and publicist Bernie Bahrmasel.
Diaz is turning 32 years old on June 7 and Pacquiao has a message for his foe.
“Happy birthday to you, David and I hope you have more (birthdays) to come,” said Pacquiao before hanging up.”
