Fortune says he's Filipino, too
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 May 2018
Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said the other day he feels at home working with an all-Filipino team in preparing Manny Pacquiao for his fight against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur on July 15. Freddie Roach wasn?t invited to join Pacquiao?s camp so Fortune is the only foreigner in the group.
Fortune, 52, arrived from Los Angeles last Friday to train Pacquiao for Matthysse and is committed to stay with the challenger for seven weeks or until the ?Fight of Champions? is done. He leaves Manila for General Santos City this weekend and will supervise Pacquiao?s start of Monday-Wednesday-Friday sparring sessions next week. Two Filipino sparmates are being tapped by Pacquiao?s head coach Buboy Fernandez and Fortune said Australian lightweight George Kambosos might be the third man in the pool.
Fortune said Pacquiao asked him to come over in a text message about a month back. ?Manny and I text each other all the time about boxing and even, politics,? he said. ?I don?t ask for a contract when I work with Manny because that?s how friends are. I don?t have a problem working with all Filipinos in Manny?s team. Boxing is a universal language. As far as I?m concerned, I?m Filipino by heart. I thought Manny was over-trained for his last fight against (Jeff) Horn but even in that condition, he deserved to win the decision. I had him winning by two rounds. I wasn?t in charge of Manny?s training for Horn. Now, I?m involved in a little bit of everything, including fight-planning. Buboy?s the head coach and we get along, too. In between rounds, it will be either Buboy or me talking to Manny inside the ring. Cutman will be another Filipino, Dr. Ed de la Vega from Los Angeles.?
Fortune said he?ll try to control Pacquiao from overworking. ?No more three hours of training,? he said. ?We want Manny to preserve his energy for the fight. We don?t want him exhausted in the gym. The fight?s good for 45 minutes. So why train for three hours every day? There?s little benefit you get if you go over 1 1/2 hours at Manny?s age. What?s also important is Manny?s happy working out. He enjoys training and that?s a big advantage. He?ll be ready for Matthysse, he?ll be fine.? Fortune said he?s making sure Pacquiao won?t burn out before facing Matthysse and the key is to limit the workouts to 1 1/2 hours of intense training in the gym without overextending himself.
Fortune said there?s no fighter like Pacquiao. ?Manny?s a freak of nature,? he said. ?People would kill to have his metabolism. His power hasn?t diminished. It?s a gift. Manny?s naturally heavy-handed. Even if he?s slowed down a bit, maybe even two notches lower than before, Manny?s still quicker than anyone out there in his division, certainly a lot quicker than Matthysse. Manny never has problems with his weight. He?s always underweight for his fights. He can do 135 if he wants to, just give him four weeks.?
Fortune, a former heavyweight fighter, has worked with over 30 world champions, including Pacquiao, Gerry Penalosa, Brian Viloria, James Toney, Johnny Bredahl and Israel Vazquez, as a trainer. Freddie Roach brought him to join Pacquiao?s camp in 2003 and they worked together until 2007 when a financial disagreement caused their split. Fortune returned to Pacquiao?s team in 2014, the year the Australian was diagnosed with neck and throat cancer. Fortune underwent surgery to remove the cancerous growths and is now fully recovered.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 25 Nov 2024FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Davao futsal scores 1st win
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 25 Nov 2024Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024