'Manny has got a new toy'
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Nov 2018
MANNY Pacquiao demonstrated early on Monday, first day of official training, why he will have no trouble being at his best for his Jan. 19 WBA welterweight title defense against Adrien Broner.
Pacquiao jogged, worked the mitts, pounded the heavy bag, poured it on and followed everything in his very tough training routine.
There?ll be no let-up, he?ll be working long and hard, even as he has to change attire in the afternoon to attend to his various tasks in the Senate.
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What amazes this early is the crispy sharpness and youthful power snap in his punches, often sending Manny smiling quite pleased at the brief break.
The Pacquiao camp said he will be moving to General Santos City when the Senate takes a break. He will stay around to celebrate his 40th birthday, then fly to Los Angeles Dec. 22 for the crucial final phase of preparations in Freddie Roach?s Wild Card gym.
There?s no doubt it will be work, work work through the holidays, all the way to his clash with the noisy and unpredictable Broner, listed as a former four division world titlist who has never been stopped.
Manny Pacquiao works out at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City Tuesday. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
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Anyway, in his face-off with Broner in New York last week, Manny, trim and cool in a blue suit, docked the foul verbal blasts from the overweight bearded challenger who came in a tight and choked blue jacket.
He definitely found Broner, with the wild antics, a fun guy. Pacquiao would quip Broner should do well as a comedian after his boxing days are over.
Pacquiao, obviously sensing the bad shape Broner was in, promised to do his best and deliver an entertaining performance.
That?s easy to believe, but here at home, many fans wonder if the pesky challenger could provide the necessary fiery challenge.
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Can Broner?s fists turn pungent and sharp as his tongue?
Based on feeds and early results of the two-city press tour, the championship to be carried by Showtime, should draw well in the United States.
There are seasoned experts abroad who believe Broner could provide a serious challenge.
?Broner has a lot going for him,? wrote the top-line boxing analyst Michael Rosenthal for BoxingScene.com. ?He?s experienced yet retains his skills and quickness ..Even though he has had his difficulties, he doesn?t go away quietly.?
Pacuiao will be 40 by the time of the championship, while Broner turns 30 in July.
Continued Rosenthal: ?Broner?s quickness and reflexes might be too much for a 40-year-old Pacquiao who remained a good fighter but is not the old dynamo of old.?
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Rosenthal did not overlook the fact that Pacquiao was not truly as great as he appeared in his seventh-round knockout of faded Argentine war horse Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur last July.
Pardon this, but Matthysse was slammed as a gutless mercenary who showed up just to collect his fat pay-check.
Many local fans who were disgusted at Matthysse called him an overhyped old fool, who turned into a silly toy for Pacquiao.
?Me bagong laruan si MannY (Manny has got a new toy,? quipped Jon Jon Abad, an avid Pacquiao fan from Mandaluyong City.
Enough has been written and said about the forthcoming WBA championship, but many people also want a clear idea on whether Broner is a serious threat or an over-blown oddball.
Unlike Matthysse, Broner sneered at his big purse.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
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