PACQUIAO HURTS EYE IN SPARRING; SKIPS WORKOUT
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Feb 2016
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Boxing great Manny Pacquiao's chief trainer Freddie Roach again gave the eight-division titleholder another rest day Wednesday, a day after undergoing his first sparring session at the MP Wild Card Gym here.
"No, there's nothing serious about it. Nothing to worry about," Roach told this writer after announcing his favorite pupil won't be coming to the gym. "It's just that he hurt his eye during sparring yesterday and I thought maybe he needs another day of rest."
Pacquiao, according to the Hall of Fame boxing guru, likewise, failed to answer the call in his early morning run that further led him to cancel the entire day schedule.
What happened though, according to Roach, has risen the need for Pacquiao to proceed early to Los Angeles to resume his training at his famous Wild Card Gym at the heart of Hollywood.
Roach had wanted Team Pacquiao to leave for L.A. not later than March 5, to avoid distractions like this one, but Pacquiao insisted March 15 as the date of departure.
The fighting Sarangani congressman is scheduled to fight American Timothy Bradley on April 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas in what was announced was his swan song in his 21-year prizefighting career.
Pacquiao's right eye was swollen after Tuesday's sparring session. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
That was the second time Pacquiao's childhood friend Buboy Fernandez, echoed Roach's sentiment. "Ganyan talaga kahit sinong boxer, sa first day ng sparring dyan magsasakitan ang parte ng katawan mo. And Manny is not an exception."
"What we're happy about is his shoulder which got injured and was operated on as a result of his losing cause against (Floyd) Mayweather is no longer hurting," Buboy said. "Meaning his injury is, indeed, completely healed."
"Bukas sparring day uli, tingnan mo masiglang-masigla na naman yan," Fernandez said.
"May marami pang mangyayaring tulad ngayong araw. "It's good Manny is prepared to undergo sparring this early. This is because naglalaro nga siya ng basketball araw-araw besides doing other things that toughened him."
"Kaya nga pagdating na pagdating ni coach Freddie at makita ang kondisyon ni Manny, inorder nas nya agad gawin na ang sparring," he said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 2026