PACQUIAO LOOKS DEADLY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 23 Sep 2007
The lasting impression Filipino national treasure Manny Pacquiao left for scores of fight fans, media personnel and men steeped in boxing in his final workout prior to leaving for Los Angeles Sunday night was that of a deadly ring warrior, honed to perfection and ready to carry the battle to legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera when they meet for a second time at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on October 6.
Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today watched Pacquiao virtually put on a show for his fans at the Wild Card Gym of his former business manager and father figure Rod Nazario in BF Homes in which he went twelve furious rounds on the punch-mitts with celebrated trainer Freddie Roach and had to be restrained in the end because he wanted to do a few more rounds.
Pacquiao showed glimpses of his new moves, a vicious right straight and a hook to the body, the quickness with which he ducks under punches in one aspect of a vastly improved defense and impressive footwork and head movement. While he enjoyed putting on a show the fans lapped it up.
The loyal members of the original Team Pacquiao ? Nazario, Moy Lainez and Lito Mondejar as well as Gerry Garcia were all smiles as they watched Pacquiao train even as they predicted Barrera wouldn?t last more than six rounds against Pacquiao who was a trim 132 pounds and as sharp as ever.
While feasting on fried chicken which he washed down with Gatorade while his charming wife Jinkee looked on in Nazario?s private office, Pacquiao said ?I have sacrificed so much in training. The rest is up to God.?
In a light moment he leaned across, looked at Jinkee who was wearing a fetching black dress and sporting a new look hairstyle and said ?my wife is beautiful. You can never say we have three children. I don?t say these things often and when I say it, I mean it.?
Shortly afterwards, egged on by producers from the GMA 7 network, Pacquiao left the Wild Card Gym to the applause of fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures while impatient network personnel egged him to leave since he was late for a guest appearance on an afternoon showbiz talk show.
Pacquiao told us he ran for some 40 minutes in the morning before proceeding to a press conference hosted by Solar Sports which has the Philippine rights to the Pacquiao-Barrera rematch and GMA 7 which will telecast the fights on Sunday, October 7 on a slightly delayed basis.
From the press conference at The Fort in Taguig, Pacquiao proceeded to the Wild Card Gym for his final workout at which they opened the doors to the fans. Roach said ?it was the first time in Manila so we opened it up. We got a lot of fan support and Manny had a really good workout. He just wants to keep going and I have to hold him back a little bit.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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