LOS ANGELES ? Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao and members of Team Pacquiao are happy to be back here where they have three weeks to prepare the world?s best pound-4-pound boxer for his upcoming championship fight against Antonio Margarito in Texas on November 13.
“I?m happy to be here,” said Pacquiao. “The fight is close. I?m excited to go back to the Wildcard Gym and then after the fight, I?ll go back to the Philippines to my work [as a Congressman].”
After two months of training in the high altitude city of Baguio in the Philippines, the Sarangani Congressman Pacquiao, his trainer Freddie Roach, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and other members of Team Pacquiao arrived to LA last Saturday, October 23, where they were greeted by a sea of fans.
Roach said training camp in the Philippines has been a little bit more difficult than years past given Pacquiao?s new stature as Congressman. He said there were more distractions than usual but his fighter should be ready against a dangerous and hungry Margarito.
“He?s ready,” said Roach about Pacquiao. “He?s definitely ready we just need him to be focused more. We have two weeks in LA to do that and that should be no problem.”
Roach also didn?t change his bold prediction of a Pacquiao win by knockout.
“He (Margarito) won?t last eight [rounds],” said Roach.
Pacquiao said the key is to continue the intense training they?ve been doing in the Philippines.
“We?re going to maintain the training that we did in Baguio and maintain the conditioning,” he said.
Aside from the pressures of vying for his eighth world title in as many divisions, Pacquiao also has the added demands of winning this fight because of his status as congressman and world?s best boxer. If he loses, critics and his detractors will blame that he?s not focusing on his bread-and-butter boxing.
“I do have a lot of responsibility and pressure now to the people especially in this upcoming fight. Many of them are going to watch,” he said. “I?m just going to do my job and give a good fight for the people.”
Pacquiao resumed preparation for his fight against Margarito last Monday, October 25. Last October 27, Pacquiao hosted an open media day workout. Margarito hosted his on October 28.
