MANNY PACQUIAO knows the dangers of squaring off with a tried and tested warrior in Erik Morales so the Filipino southpaw is not taking any chances going into the final phase of his training for the March 19 battle in Las Vegas.
He has even decided that to enhance his chances, Pacquiao has got to go the extra mile.
Speaking from his rented two-bedroom condominium unit right in the heart of Hollywood yesterday afternoon (Sunday night in the US), Pacquiao revealed that he is expected to log a total of 163 rounds of sparring by the time he departs for the MGM Grand on March 14.
“Ngayon pa lang ay 137 rounds na ang total sparring ko at mayroong pang 26 rounds na natitira na bubunuin ko this week,” said Pacquiao, who took a break in training on Sunday. “Ngayon lang ako aabot ng ganoong karaming rounds.”
What pumps up Pacquiao is the fact that when he humiliated Marco Antonio Barrera in late-2003 in San Antonio, Texas, the GenSan puncher only racked up a little over 100 rounds of sparring.
Against another Mexican, Juan Manuel Marquez, last year, Pacquiao also logged almost the same amount of rounds. That fight ended on a 12-round split draw with Marquez recovering from three knockdowns in the first round.
“Sa labang ito ay talagang todo ako sa ensayo dahil alam kong hindi madali ang labang ito kahit na mayroong nagsasabi na kayang-kaya ko si Morales.”
Last week, Pacquiao sparred for 12 furious rounds at the Wild Card Boxing Club of his chief trainer Freddie Roach and later admitted that he felt as if he had just fought a regular bout.
But when pressed for comment a week later regarding the rigorous training regimen he?s been undergoing under Roach and his able assistants, Pacquiao sounded cocky.
“Wala na (ang sakit). Nasanay na ako dyan,” said Pacquiao, who started his training for the Morales fight in the second week of January.
Pacquiao believes he will not encounter problems with the scales during the official weighing scheduled on the eve of the HBO Pay-Per-View fight dubbed “Coming With Everything.”
“Wala akong nakikitang problema dyan. Siguro ay titimbang ako ng mga 128 or 129 at sa laban mismo ay mga 136 to 138 na ako.”
The weight limit is 130 lbs and this will be the first time that Pacquiao is fighting in this weight class. In contrast, Morales, who is two years older than Pacquiao at 28, has fought several times in the 130-lb backyard.
NOTES: There is so much interest in the March 19 fight that personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are heading to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao live in action. Several congressmen, mayors, a senator and two action stars are going to be at ringside on fight night and Pacquiao has been having some sort of a problem trying to budget the tickets that will be given to him free of charge. “Pinangakuan ako ng 25 tickets at pitong kuwarto sa MGM Grand pero sa tingin ko kukulangin dahil marami ang magpupuntahan sa laban ko,” said Pacquiao, who nevertheless made it clear that there are already owners of those complimentary passes. “Baka nga bumili pa ako ng 20 pa”… Arriving in Las Vegas during fight week are First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Games and Amusements Board Chairman Eric Buhain, Sen. Lito Lapid, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Geneneral Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon, North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pi?ol, and movie stars Robin Padilla and Cesar Montano … Z Gorres, a prot?g? of Tony Aldeguer and Rudy Salud, is fighting underneath the Pacquiao headliner against a still to be named foe. Salud, formerly the secretary-general of the World Boxing Council, and Aldeguer, a Cebu boxing patron, will be there to provide morale boost ? Tickets are priced at $400, $300, $200, $125 and $75 (sold out) … For a fee, HBO will beam the fight at $44.95 to US home … Reduced media rates for accredited members of the press at the 5,005-room MGM Grand Hotel is pegged at $129. The rate will slightly increase on the eve and day of the fight.
