Pacquiao downplays KO prediction
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Nov 2014
MACAU, China ? Reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title-holder Manny Pacquiao landed in this ?city of sin? equipped with the arsenal that his handlers believe will bring him back to the days when he was practically slaying men who came his way en route to becoming the only man on earth to crown himself champion in eight weight divisions.
Being his usual humble, down-playing self though, the now 35-year-old pride of his country and Asia doesn?t promise to send to dreamland unbeaten American title pretender Chris Algieri the way he did to Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Oscar DeLa Hoya.
?As I have been saying, winning by KO will come. Hindi ito tina target,? Pacquiao told this writer in a one-on-one interview on the eve of Team Pacquiao?s departure from General Sangos City in Barangay Lasang in General Santos City (at the back of Roadhouse Hotel, which he owned) and where he is constructing a House of Worship.
?But this is what I can only say. I prepared long and hard for this fight in a program drawn up by my coaching staff sans distractions that marked my preparations in my previous fights,? Pacquiao assured.
?Even playing basketball, which I love dearly, hindi ko ginawa three weeks before me and my team flew here in Macau,? he bared. ?Ganoon ka-siryoso ang training ko, which actually started 10 weeks ago. Kaya masasabi ko na hindi lamang ako ready. Handang-handa ako as in handang-handang bigyang muli ang karangalan an gating bansa sa tanging paraang nalalaman ko, sa boksing.?
Told that chief Freddie Roach had predicted a first round victory, the Sarangani Congressman said: Ganoon ba? Well, masasabi nya talaga yun because of the tough preparation I had undergone. Grabe talaga.?
?Ang sabi ko naman, kapag binigyan ako ng pagkakataon, kukunin ko, he declared. ?Kapag pinahintulutan ng Panginoon, bakit hindi? Lahat naman ng nangyayarai sa mundo, kaloob ng Diyos, di ba??
?Alam ko namang hindi Niya ako pababayaan. Trabaho lang naman ito at I owe it din naman sa boxing fans, lalo na sa ating mga kababayan na nanalangin na manalo ako at manalo ng impresibo,? Pacquiao reasoned out.
?Tuloy-tuloy ang naging ensayo. Kahit inuubo, sinisipon, masakit ang tiyan. Umulan man o umaraw,? he recalled. ?Takbo sa umaga, sparring sa hapon and in-between doing mitts, punching the heavy bags, double end ball and speed ball. Count the similarly grueling conditioning exercises kaya nakikita mo naman pagdating ng gabi, pagod-na-pagod at pahinga agad.
At tingin ko naman ang lahat ng sakripisyong yan, pati ng koponan ko ang magiging sandata ko para matupad ang hangad nating lahat na manalo alang-alang din sa ating mga kababayan,? he vowed. ?Sa tulong ng Panginoon, matutupad lahat ng hilingin natin."
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