Team Pacquiao: "There's no way Vargas could hurt Manny to prevent him to return to PH day after the fight to attend to Senate duties"
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 28 Oct 2016
LOS ANGELES, CA -- No, there's no way World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas can hurt Manny Pacquiao as to prevent the Filipino ring hero's return to Manila a day after their titular encounter on Saturday next week, November 5, (Sunday, November 6 in Manila) at the Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas.
Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez dismissed fears expressed by some quarters that the reigning 147-pound belt-owner could injure his challenger so bad, Pacquiao might not be allowed by physician to travel home the following day as planned for his safety to avoid missing a session in the senate.
This, according to observers, is pursuant to a rule that allows a fighter, who was knocked out or badly beaten to undergo observation of at least 48 hours before being allowed to travel to avoid complications and life-threatening injuries.
Justin even expressed doubts on whether there is such a rule by any governing body in sports, adding though that it could be practiced in some areas, precisely to prevent further serious injury to the concerned boxers.
"I don't know of the existence of such a rule," Fortune flatly said. "Some areas might be practicing prevention of this kind, like not allowing a boxer who suffered knockout in a fight to sleep the same night to avoid serious repercussions."
"What I do know though is that things like Manny being knocked out or beaten badly can't happen. Not by Vargas," Fortune assured.
"What I am expecting is an easy victory for Manny. In fact, with the way Manny trains in this fight, I can see Manny beating Vargas black and blue."
Chief trainer Freddie Roach, for his part, denied outright of the existence of such a rule or practice. "I have been in boxing for so long and I can't remember anyone stopping me from allowing any of my boxers from going home regardless of the outcome of a fight."
"Anyway, whether there's really a rule or a practice, if Manny gets hurt seriously we'll just postpone his coming home for a couple of days just to satisfy skeptics," he said with his patent wide grin.
Fernandez agreed with Fortune's prediction, saying, Pacquiao has, indeed, been preparing hard for his comeback fight his boss can beat anybody, especially the current titleholder, who he added is not yet in the caliber of the eight-division champion.
"Napakaganda ng preparasyon ni Manny sa laban na ito. He knew from the day we started training what's at stake in his showdown with Vargas. That's why sa simula pa lang nandoon ang determinasyon. Damdam ko gusto talagang gumawa na naman ng kasaysayan na maging kaunaunahang senador na maging kampeon," Pacquiao's boyhood pal said.
"Poor Vargas, baka mapaaga ang reitrement niya," he projected of what fate awaits Vargas, who at 27 is 10 years junior of Pacquiao. . "It's a pity, may kinabukasan pa naman ang bata. No, I'm not scaring him, grabe talaga ang naging preparasyon ni Manny at kawawa talaga ang sinumang makakakaharap niya at this stage of his career."
Roach's Filipino assistant trainer Marvin Somodio at Wild Card Gym, likewise, attested to the determination and seriousness Pacquiao has been showing in the training program.
"Hindi ko nakita ang ginawang training ni Manny sa Manila, pero sa ipinapakita niya dito sa apat na araw na nagdaan niya dito sa Wild Card, nakita kong ni katiting di talaga nagbago and lakas at bilis niya. Ang laki pa nga ang inimorpove niya'" Somodio noted.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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