PACQUIAO STILL GRINDING LESS THAN 48 HRS TO FIGHT TIME
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Nov 2014
Macau, China - If you think that Manny Pacquiao is taking Chris Algieri lightly. You are wrong.
In the basement of the posh The Venetian Macao, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion of the world is still hard at work less than 48 hours before he defends his crown against Algieri, who is a heavy underdog in this fight.
Pacquiao showed up at around three in the afternoon at a makeshift gym and ring in this casino resort, padded his toes, taped his fists and engaged in an hour-long sweat-inducing workout in front of clicking cameras of the media, some selfie-ing fans and his large entourage.
He stretched, shadowboxed and worked up a sweat amidst a mesmerized audience whose eyes and phones follow his every move.
Not that he needed to shed extra poundage for the 144 pound weight limit for this fight, he was already 141 pounds Thursday night and his body is already looking lean and shredded, reminiscent of his younger days as a fighter.
And this is exactly what the almost 36 year-old multi division champ wanted to achieve - both in his physique, conditioning and in the boxing ring this Sunday morning in Macao. (Fight is carried live Saturday evening in the United States)
Pacquiao is intent in bringing back his explosive nature in the ring against the taller and longer-reach Algieri, again reminiscent of his younger days as a fighter. If only to satisfy his trainer, his promoter, the media and his fans who missed the Pacquiao of old.
His trainer Freddie Roach wants him to knockout Algieri in 1 round, a bold prediction from a bold trainer, who is aching for the Pacquiao who battered his opponents to submission in the past.
Pacquiao downplayed his trainer's prediction but one can feel that he wants a fiery performance himself - so he could satisfy his trainer, the media and his fans.
And that showed today in a short punch mitt session with Roach.
Pacquiao smacked trainer Freddie Roach's mitt in the air after hitting it with a powerful left hook. The spectators uttered a loud "OH" as they follow the direction of Roach's flying mitt.
"He is looking really good." expressed someone in the audience.
Pacquiao was hitting his trainer hard, was moving in the ring with gusto and was craving for more action in Friday afternoon's training session, again just less than 48 hours before fight time, when many think that one should be taking it easy as the fight draw nears.
The multi-division champ stated that he is not taking the underdog Algieri lightly and he is proving it by spending extra time in the gym, in the ring and with Roach.
"in Jesus name, I declare that victory is mine," shouted Pacquiao at the end of his training session. And his fans and entourage answered back.."YES!"
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and is on Twitter @Freemazon 910.
Photo: Pacquiao (C) works out at the makeshift gym at The Venetian Macao Friday afternoon. Photo by Rich Mazon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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