It?s early Monday morning and practically all of the hard work has been done for Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion of the world. In five days? time, the celebrated Filipino will defend his title against fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, in what will likely serve as a fitting conclusion to one of the more memorable trilogies in recent memory.
For this camp, as has been the case with several others, Pacquiao enlisted the services of lightweight hopeful David Rodela as a sparring partner. The rangy boxer-puncher from Oxnard, California has been going rounds with Manny ever since his preparation for his first bout with Erik Morales in March of 2005 and there is a solid camaraderie that exists between the two men.
Pacquiao?s mood at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles is typically carefree, yet Rodela insists he has seen another side of him this time around.
?The only difference with Manny now is that he?s extremely focused, no laughing, no giggling, no playing around, no bull******** like in other camps in the past like with Cotto, with Margarito,? said Rodela. ?He?s doing what he loves but he?s out to prove a point, to leave no doubt in anybody?s mind that he beat Marquez twice already.?
