Three-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has only 10 weeks to whip himself into tip-top shape before facing Erik Morales in a scheduled 12-bout billed “The Battle!” at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Jan. 21.
Professional fitness pro David Chua of Gold’s Gym said the other day Pacquiao is about 60 percent away from peak form and must begin working out sooner than later if he hopes to be in his best physical condition for the biggest fight in his 10-year career.
Pacquiao, who is now in the US promoting his rematch against Morales, visited Gold’s Gym in Robinson’s Galleria recently and tried out the different fitness machines under Chua’s supervision.
Pacquiao is expected to return here Thursday early morning and set up training camp in Cebu on Saturday. Then, he plans to leave for the US the first week of December to start rigid training with Roach, probably in Phoenix.
Chua, 53, is a US-certified trainer who has been a gym instructor since 1995. As the Gold’s Gym manager, he supervises 15 instructors and no longer trains individual clients. But Chua said he’ll make an exception in Pacquiao, a Gold’s Gym lifetime member, if the fighter enlists his services.
Pacquiao toured the 2,000-square meter facility in Robinson’s Galleria and tested the treadmill, dips machine, the Nautilus circuit sets, the abdominal exerciser and others while filming sequences for his personal TV show “Manny Pacquiao–Sports Idol” which premieres this Friday at 6 p.m. on IBC-13.
Chua said he was surprised that Pacquiao had difficulty with the strength machines.
“From what I saw, Manny will probably be able to bench press up to only 40 pounds when he should be able to lift as much as he weighs, about 130,” said Chua. “He pushed up to 50 pounds doing 10 repetitions on the pec-fly machine and went up 10 times on the chinning machine. The machine he liked the best was the leg press where he lay on his back and pushed weights with his legs.”
Chua said Pacquiao mentioned he’ll work out in the gym when his schedule allows.
“Manny is an extraordinary athlete, one in a million,” said Chua. “He has a lot of power in his punches, both natural and developed. I think his body fat is less than 10 percent because he’s so lean. If you pinch him, all you’ll get is skin. Just by talking to him, you can sense that he’s a very passionate, determined and disciplined person when it comes to doing what he has to do.”
If he’s asked to prepare a conditioning program for Pacquiao, Chua said his priorities will be strength training–which involves all body parts–and cardio-vascular exercises.
“Boxing training is different from a strength and conditioning program,” continued Chua. “In the gym, you can concentrate on certain body parts or muscles which an athlete will need to develop to become more competitive in his sport. Imagine how much more powerful and explosive Manny could be if he did specific exercises with our machines.”
Chua said he could design a program where Pacquiao would not only develop more power in his punches but also improve his ability to absorb punishment, particularly in the midsection, and his stamina.
“What we could suggest is a program that is complementary to the training he undergoes with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym,” said Chua.
Chua said over P50 Million was invested in equipment at the Gold’s Gym in Robinson’s Galleria where celebrities like actor Rudy Fernandez work out. Among the machines are 15 treadmills at about P100,000 each, 30 spinning bikes at about P80,000 each and two Nautilus circuit sets at about P100,000 each. The gym also has a boxing ring, speedballs, punching bags and other training equipment.
“Manny’s rise to stardom has sparked a big interest in boxing and the martial arts,” said Chua. “Tae-bo, for instance, has become very popular.”
Pacquiao created a commotion when he walked into the gym. Barangay Ginebra pro cagers Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Kalani Ferreria and Aris Dimaunahan stopped their workouts, ran to a nearby Toby’s Sports Store and bought boxing gloves for Pacquiao to autograph. Others in the gym did the same thing.
