WIFE'S PRESENCE INSPIRES PACQUIAO
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Aug 2007
CEBU CITY--With wife Jinkee in attendance, superstar Manny Pacquiao easily breezed through a rigorous three-hour workout yesterday at the Rex 'Wakee' Salud gym here, prompting onlookers that the southpaw boxing hero is ready to fight even today and not on October 6 against Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao and Barrera are set to trade leathers once again in a rematch of their 2003 battle won by the Filipino icon in stunning fashion.
Jinkee, who arrived at the gym with Pacquiao, trainers Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez, looked relaxed all throughout the afternoon session, as she stayed ringside to watch her husband perform his training routine.
"I have to be here, while my baby is in the hotel. My husband also needs attention, you know," Jinkee said, apparently precluding 10-month-old Mary Divine Grace from attending due to the sweltering heat inside the world-class gym.
"This is inferno amigo. Very hot!" exclaimed Mexican David Rodela, who sparred against Pacquiao on Monday and got some rude welcome when he was momentarily halted in the third round before being allowed to continue.
The gym did not have an overflow of visitors yesterday, unlike the previous days when fans had to even resort to climbing the ten-foot walls of the gym just to take a look at the Filipino boxing hero. This time, guards of the Salud family did good in controlling the inflow of visitors.
Pacquiao started his afternoon with three rounds of shadow-boxing, before Pacquiao hit the mitts for a total of six rounds with Roach holding them for him.
"We emphasized more power, and more techniques in the six-round mitt session," said Fernandez while Pacman banged away at the mitts.
"Manila Ice!" Pacquiao shouted after a solid shot landed on the mitts, before they continued their drill and experimenting on new moves to be used in the rematch.
Pacquiao then punished the heavy bags for two rounds, worked the speed ball for ten minutes, skipped rope for ten minutes and then shadow-boxed for four rounds.
Today, Pacquiao is set to spar once again against Rodela.
Another Mexican sparmate, Fernando Beltran Jr, is also set to arrive today, while the third sparmate Speedy Gonzalez arrives tomorrow in Cebu.
"We're pretty much ahead of schedule. Manny is at a point where he want him to be. We're doing some new stuff, and we should be ready when we fly to Los Angeles on September 22 together with the people who need to be with us in the trip," said trainer Freddie Roach after the three-hour session.
Aside from being the chief trainer, Roach has been also doing the role of a conditioning expert on Pacquiao, even waking up very early in the morning to join his ward in his morning runs at the AsiaTown IT Park and Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.
"Ang tindi ni Freddie. Sumasabay talaga yan tuwing umaga sa ensayo. Napakasipag nya," said chief-of-staff Jayke Joson.
Jinkee Pacquiao (L) keeps herself busy on the cellphone while her husband, Manny, is training at the Wakee Salud Gym. At right is Gerry Pe?alosa's wife Goody.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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