PACQUIAO DECLARES HIMSELF READY
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 19 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES -- World Boxing organization welterweight belt-owner Manny Pacquiao pronounced himself ready physically, mentally and spiritually to face World Boxing Council/World Boxing Association 147-pound titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their unification showdown May 2 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
?Physically? Yes. Mentally? Yes. Spiritually? Yes na naman," the 36-year-old eight-division world champion said with a wide grin during a conversation Friday (Saturday in Manila) following another day that saw him do away with his Wild Card Gym training camp here.
He climbed though for an hour another portion of the Griffith Park called the Bronson Canyon, leading to the other side of the Hollywood sign, which is as stiff, if not stiffer than the observatory side he has been scaling thrice a week the past month and-a-half.
"There's nothing to be improved anymore. Nandiyan na lahat," Pacquiao said. "Ang physical condition, okay na, the mental preparations, completed, too, at lalo na ang spiritual aspect which I don't have to prepare, anyway, because my belief and faith in God has never faltered."
"Pag sinamahan mo ng panalangin ang paghihirap mo, my rewards yan kay Lord," he remarked. "Thank God he spared me from injury and sickness in the course of my training. And I hope that he will again protect me during the fight and guide me to victory for our country and countrymen."
"I really cannot ask for more. As my trainers have been saying, everything is in place and the only thing we will be doing in the remaining days here in L.A. is polishing and proper execution of our game plan. Satisfied ako talaga sa lahat ng nangyari sa camp," Pacquiao added.
"I am happy with the way we ran the camp, everybody, Freddie (chief trainer Freddie Roach), Justin (conditioning coach Justin Fortune) and the boys (Buboy Fernandez, (Nonoy Neri, Roger Fernandez and Marvin Somodio) are all very happy with the results," he declared.
"Dapat naman. Doble nga ang frequency ng training ko -- roadwork, sparring, other gym activities, conditioning -- lahat dalawang ulit na ginagawa, the three-time Fighter of the Year of the Boxing Writers Associaion of America, recalled.
"I have to thank nga members of my training team for their resiliency, which led me to be resilient, too," he narrated. "And, of course, there never was distractions throughout our nearly two-month stay here.. We followed the regimen we ourselves prepared to the letter."
"Almost all that the coaching staff asked me to do, I obeyed. Except the few things I liked to do, like the transfer of roadwork to Griffith. I liked the mountains because I have been scaling that since I started training here in L.A.. The coaches allowed me," the father of five with Sarangani Vice Gov. wife Jinkee said.
In regards to his having another day of rest in doing the mitts with Roach, punching the double end and speed balls, Pacquiao said it was his decision to do away with the routine. "Hindi na masyadong kailangan ang mitts. Anyway, I will be sparring tomorrow (Saturday in Manila) for four rounds.
"We will also continue reviewing our game plans, stick to what proved to be effective and improved on those which seem to be lacking," he disclosed.
"I felt itchy scaling the Bronson Hills kasi seven years na akong hindi tumatakbo doon mula pa noong Dela Hoya ( Oscar Dela Hoya) fight. Additional routine din yun for leg strengthening," he explained. "Next week ulitin ko pa ng isang beses bago umalis ang team for Las Vegas."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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