"BRING ON THE ENEMY!"
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Nov 2014
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? Bring on the enemy!
Thus declared WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao?s chief trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Justin Fortune Tuesday as the 147-pound champion started tapering off his preparation for his coming defense of his crown against American title pretender Chris Algeiri.
The 35-year-old Pacquiao and Algieri, five years the champ?s junior and a former martial arts campaigner, are scheduled to wipe each other out on Sunday at the Cotai Arena of the posh Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau.
?As I have been saying, matagal na akong excited umakyat muli sa ring and today as we started easing up on preparations, I can say na talagang reding-ready na at excited ako,? he said after completing a relatively light eight-round sparring. ?Kung maari nga lang i-fast-forward natin ang araw para Sunday na,? he uttered.
?Manny?s ready and can fight any day from today, that?s why he?s tapering off his training here,? Roach told this writer following a still rigorous four-round sparring each with Ukrainian no. l junior welterweight contender Viktor Polos and favorite whipping boy Stan Martyniouk.
?Manny?s already in fighting form and will be peaking within the week, Thursday, if my estimate comes true to form,? Fortune, for his part, assessed.
?Matagal na. Last week pa, pueeng-puede nang lumaban sa Manny,? Filipino assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, meanwhile, chorused in agreement with Roach?s Fortune?s observations.
The sparring phase of preparations is almost finish and the Filipino crown-holder only needs very little improvements on what?s he?s gained in the last eight weeks of build up program since pitching camp here last September.
?in boxing, when you say you?re tapering off it means there?s nothing more you need in your arsenal. Manny?s got everything, he?s been training hard religiously the past two months. If ever he still needs something, it will be very, very minimum,? Roach assured.
Rounding out the sparring portion of training, Roach has scheduled a six-round skirmish Thursday, again, with Polos and Martyniouk at three rounds each and four rounds on Saturday.
?On Saturday, we pull down the curtains of the GenSan camp with a four-round (two-round) each) sweating out session,? Roach disclosed with a smile.
Team Pacquiao flies to the China?s ?sin city? via two chartered flights to attend the traditional ?Fight? Week ceremonies leading to Sunday?s much-awaited encounter, considered crucial to both fighters? careers.
For the Sarangani Congressman, the 12-rounder might determine whether there?s still chance for the much-sought after mega-fight with Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr. is still possible. For the unbeaten challenger, who himself is not growing any younger, it means whether he is ready to pursue a rich, lucrative fighting career.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Undefeated middleweight prospect Nisa “Sweet-Destruction” Rodriguez Plans to fight for a title in 2025
Tue, 31 Dec 2024Rising Irish welterweight star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan Preparing for Lewis Crocker showdown on March 1
Mon, 30 Dec 2024PH’s First-Ever Female Chess Master rules 35th International Chess Festival in Krakow, Poland
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Dec 2024SPORTS RECORDS 1: THE LONGEST BOXING FIGHT IN HISTORY
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 30 Dec 2024Lacar wins two titles over Li
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 30 Dec 2024NM Bernardino to hold chess simul in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 30 Dec 2024IM Yu Tian Poh, AFM Wei Hom Isaac Tan clinch 16th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open 2024 title
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 29 Dec 2024Dumam-ag fights Limura for vacant OPBF fly title
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 28 Dec 2024Jayson Mama vs. Michael Bravo Ends in Technical Draw; Joey Canoy and Rv Deniega shine in Sanman's Last Show of 2024.
Sat, 28 Dec 2024Casama to face Fujita in Tokyo
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 28 Dec 2024Mirano, Bernardino, Alidani shine in Penang chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 28 Dec 2024February 24: Junto Nakatani-David Cuellar Title Showdown Headlines a Bantamweight Bonanza in Tokyo LIVE on ESPN+
Fri, 27 Dec 2024Zamora, Soledad crush opponents in Bangkok
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 27 Dec 2024GOLDEN BOY LAUNCHES INTO 2025 WITH ERIC PRIEST HEADLINING FIRST-EVER SHOW AGAINST TYLER “HERCULES” HOWARD
Fri, 27 Dec 2024PH Fighter of the Year, Top Fighters of 2024
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 27 Dec 2024