MANNY PACQUIAO is so juiced-up for his next fight that his training team has cautioned him to take it easy.
Pacquiao’s adviser Joe Ramos said yesterday that Freddie Roach has told his famous pupil to loosen up a bit.
The Filipino boxer, who came late to training because of several commitments in Manila, tangles with the ambitious Hector Velazquez of Mexico at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 10.
“Manny’s pushing himself hard and he’s been told to take it easy sometimes,” said Ramos.
Meanwhile, Ramos said the press will be allowed to witness Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Aug. 31 only. The date had originally been planned as a public workout.
The Wild Card gym is nearly the exclusive domain of Pacquiao six days a week after gym owner Freddie Roach, also Pacquiao’s chief trainer, banned public workouts six days a week so Pacquiao can concentrate on his training.
Pacquiao’s team has been worried about distractions and just a few days ago, they convinced him to surrender his two cellphones so he won’t have to answer them. They complain that the calls have been rampant and these have affected the boxer’s training.
Apart from regular sparmate Israel Vazquez, Pacquiao also works out with lightweight Urbano Antillon, an unbeaten 22-year-old prospect from Mexico who now lives in California.
“A few days back, Manny sparred for 10 rounds,” said Ramos, one of only a handful of people allowed entry to the Wild Card whenever Pacquiao is in the house.
Pacquiao, 26, should have his last sparring session on Sept. 5. He arrived in the US only last Aug. 7.
The Velazquez fight is so crucial that a loss would ruin Pacquiao’s chances of earning a rematch with Erik Morales next year in Las Vegas.
A heavy underdog, Velazquez, 30, continues to train at the Cheto Gym in downtown Tijuana.
