HOLLYWOOD, CA.-While at the Wild Card Boxing gym on Wednesday, there was something stirring at the crowded boxing facility. People seemed a little more somber than usual. A few minutes later, Winchell Campos, spokesman for Manny ?Pac Man? Pacquiao, walked up to me as I watched Brian Viloria and Jorge Martinez spar and tapped me on the shoulder.
?I?ve got big news for you,? Campos said. ?Manny Pacquiao is leaving Murad Muhammad.?
Of course I was surprised.
With only six weeks left before Pacquiao steps into the ring with Mexico?s Erik ?El Terrible? Morales it seemed like poor timing to decide something that will surely lead to some kind of lawsuit.
?It?s all settled,? Campos said. ?We?ll be sending out an announcement.?
A few moments later, Pacquiao arrived up the second-story steps of the Wild Card with a number of followers and friends. Looking deadly serious the Filipino bomber barely nodded to familiar fighters and trainers and quickly stepped into his boxing gear.
Around the gym other fighters continued in motion. On one side IBF junior featherweight world champion Israel Vazquez continued to assault a large heavy bag. On another side, Kingsley Ikeke began stretching. Sitting near the ring was Bridgett ?Baby Doll? Riley, who was recently filmed in the movie ?Million Dollar Baby?.
Freddie Roach and Macka Foley worked the fighters nonstop like a conveyor belt. They never stopped instructing.
Meanwhile, Pac Man wrapped a red bandanna on his head then began shadow boxing in the middle of the crowded gym. That familiar slight hop to get the juices flowing then the volley of lightning fast combinations whistled in the air.
After several rounds of shadow boxing, Pacquiao stepped into the ring to hit the mitts with Roach.
Like a wound-up top, Pacquiao bounced around the ring firing lethal-looking combinations in rapid succession. They?re the kind of punches that instantly make you realize why he?s a world-class fighter. Every single punch has something on it, despite the alacrity. Every blow looks like it can take out a middleweight.
Moving side to side, stepping in and out, unleashing explosive punches at Roach, Pac Man seems tireless despite the firepower he?s dolling out like chips at a roulette table. He?s got plenty to spare.
Now the chips are in the hands of noted boxing manager Shelly Finkel and fellow attorneys Keith Davidson and Nicholas Khan.
?Now I can concentrate on fighting,? said Pacquiao in a statement.
It sure looks like it.
Around Cali Israel Vazquez said he?s tapped to fight New Mexico?s Johnny ?Mi Vida Loca? Tapia in his home state.
Just off a recent fifth-round knockout victory, Vazquez is anxious to get back in the ring. People are hoping he gets another rematch with WBC junior featherweight title-holder Oscar Larios. They each own a victory.
In East Los Angeles, speedy middleweight contender Sergio Mora continues to work out to keep sharp. He recently participated in ?The Contender?, a TV reality show put on by NBC. The show has been stalled for the second time. It will now be shown sometime in early March.
While at the East Los Angeles gym, Mora?s trainer Dean Campos (no relation to Winchell Campos) put on a videotape of his fighter and Antonio Margarito. In it the two exchanged some serious firepower.
Mora is contractually obligated to refrain from fighting on any fight cards. But he?s looking for sparring to stay in the pink.
People at the gym were a little disappointed when word arrived that budding superstar Edwin Valero was not going to stop by. The day before, two trainers with hand-counters clicked on the number of punches he throws in a round.
?He must have thrown 900 punches,? said Campos. ?My hand got tired trying to keep up counting.?
The only other guy who can fire that many punches is Pacquiao. Everyone agreed.
That would be a great match if it ever happens: Pac Man vs. Valero.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao embarks on the most significant fight of his career when he faces warrior extreme Erik Morales. From gym to gym the consensus seems overwhelming, Pac Man is the favorite in this fight.
Hopefully the fight outside of the ring doesn?t affect him.
?My only concern now is to prepare well against Erik Morales,? Pacquiao said.
