LOS ANGELES ? As Floyd Mayweather Jr. prepared to serve time in jail, Manny Pacquiao continued to prepare hard for his showdown with Timothy Bradley.
The Filipino champion sparred six rounds against a pair of Russian bears Thursday. There was no holding back that at times it looked more like a real fight.
?Did you see me train?? Pacquiao asked scribes leaning on the ropes as the reigning WBO welterweight champion wrapped it up with some shadow boxing.
Pacquiao was obviously happy and extremely satisfied how sparring went nine days before the anticipated fight on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
By the time Pacquiao climbs the ring against the undefeated and hungry challenger from California, Mayweather would have spent more than a week in jail.
The pay-per-view magnet reports to the Clark County Justice Center in Las Vegas, before he?s led to his jail cell perhaps no bigger than the king-size bed in his mansion.
Unless a miracle happen after pleading guilty last December to charges of domestic violence.
Pacquiao looked ready for the fight, and the chance to redeem himself from a performance that disappointed most of his fans last November.
He jumped ropes to the tune of Shakira?s ?Whenever, Wherever? and when he was done, and before stepping out of the ring he posed for the cameras.
Pacquiao took his shirt off, and flexed his muscles. He had to ask those taking pictures to hold it for a while, so he could brush his hair with his hand.
?Para pogi tayo (Let?s look handsome),? he said.
For Pacquiao?s chief handler, Freddie Roach, it?s a thing of the past, and right in front of them this time is Bradley, a trash-talker, undefeated in 28 fights.
?Manny is in a very good place. He?s in great shape for the fight. We have a good game plan and we know how to handle him,? said Roach.
Roach has his own idea of what?s going to happen.
?Buboy (Fernandez) thinks he?s (Bradley) going to run after he tastes Manny?s power. I disagree. I don?t think he knows how to run. Manny?s gonna eat him up all night long,? he said.
Is it going to be a short night?
?It could be but he?s a durable, tough guy,? said Roach.
?But it will be fun to watch.?
