FILIPINO ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao, who goes up against former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios in a blockbuster fight card that will be telecast worldwide on a pay-per-view basis by the giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN, admits to feeling the pressure.
Fighting before his adoring hometown fans after his spectacular demolition of legendary Mexican Erik “El Terrible” Morales last January, Pacquiao told US Ring Talk radio host Pedro Fernandez in a taped interview that was broadcast yesterday: “I feel a lot of pressure, especially from my countrymen.”
Fernandez, a popular boxing writer and former Golden Gloves champion, who hosts a widely listened to boxing talk show on radio, referred to Pacquiao as “the most popular fighter in the world and one of the greatest.”
Asked whether his incredible popularity, especially in the Philippines had gone to his head, Pacquiao replied.”No, I don’t think about that [popularity]. Without the people I won’t be here.”
Pacquiao said Larios was “a good puncher with long arms and first of all, has good stamina.”
Earlier, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach conceded that Larios was a conditioning freak, who does get better as the fight goes on, prompting to reveal a game plan that would try to take out Larios early.
Pacquiao said they had worked on a lot of strategies for Larios, “but it’s a secret that couldn’t be revealed.”
The Filipino ring icon said his training was not secret, “but our technique is top secret.”
