Manny Pacquiao is peaking in time for his fight against Jorge Solis of Mexico next month in Texas.
A day before he left for Manila prior to his departure for the United States, Pacquiao went a total of 10 rounds with two sparring partners, said Rey Golingan, who had watched the boxer while training in his hometown.
According to Golinga, whose amateur boxing program was where Pacquiao first showcased his stuff, the boxer was his usual self, fast and furious.
The Filipino boxing champ will have sparred no less than 50 rounds with local sparmates, Golingan said.
“Manny was in his usual fiery form,” said Golingan, who will join the fighter in San Antonio in the next few weeks.
Golingan was also at ringside when Pacquiao made a smashing introduction to the American boxing scene at the Alamodome in Nov. 2003 with an 11th-round knockout of Marco Antonio Barrera.
“If Manny can finish the guy off in one round, then he must do it,” said Golingan.
Pacquiao is expected to rush back to GenSan following the Solis fight so he could catch up on the campaign trail.
Pacquiao, through his lawyer, is expected to file his certificate of candidacy for congressman before the March 29 deadline. He is eyeing the first district seat in South Cotabato currenly held by Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
In anticipation of Pacquiao’s departure for Los Angeles tonight, the boxer arrived in Manila at noon yesterday with wife Jinkee, lawyer Franklin Gacal, Canadian adviser Mike Koncz and training assistants Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri in tow.
He reportedly met First Gentleman Mike Arroyo late in the afternoon. However, there were no details about their meeting.
A few hours before he boards the PAL jet that will bring him to Los Angeles, Pacquiao will grace a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel at 6 p.m. to formally endorse a party-list group headed by former cager Jerry Codi?era.
Pacquiao, 28, who hasn’t fought since overpowering Erik Morales late last year in Las Vegas, is scheduled to hold his first sparring session at the Wild Card on Tuesday.
Freddie Roach, now in Puerto Rico training Oscar De La Hoya, has signed up two rangy and tall sparmates for Pacquiao to work with in the remaining four weeks.
