After only three days in camp, Pacquiao's preps shift to higher level
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Nov 2018
Three days after pitching camp handlers of World Boxing Association welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao pronounced that the 147-pound kingpin is ready to shift his build up program to a higher level ahead of his coming title fight with challenger Adrien Broner.
Chief trainer Buboy Fernandez and conditioning coach Justin Fortune on Thursday assured that the soon-to-be 40-year old ring gladiator has passed the initial test on whether he can last the rigor of an eight-week extensive training regimen the coaching staff has prepared.
?Walang pagbabago mula noong huling laban nang ibalik natin si Manny sa dati niyang kinalalagyan (nothing has changed since our last fight we we succeeded in bringing Manny back to where he previously belonged),? Fernandez told this writer in an interview following the day?s light gym activities at the Elorde Gym in Pasay City.
Pacquiao?s boyhood friend-trainer was referring to the fighting senator?s seventh round TKO triumph over erstwhile Argentine belt-owner Lucas Matthysse last July, which he added was testament that his bosom pal is still a force to reckon with in his division contrary to what many believed.
Fortune, a former Australian heavyweight campaigner and Buboy?s partner in resuscitating what looked like the eight-division?s already declining career, said: "No amount of undermining and belittling Manny?s victory over Matthysse can erase the fact that Manny still belongs to the elite list of fighters in the welterweight class.?
?Remember before that fight, almost everybody was saying Manny?s already a washed out and Lucas would annihilate him and knock him out in fifth, sixth or seventh round,? Fortune recalled. ?But look what happened? We wrested the title from him.?
?Now, they?re changing their tune. They?re now saying it?s Lucas who?s a washed out and he went to Malaysia just to collect his pay check. Ridiculous. Aren?t they?? Fortune added.
Manny Pacquiao does the mitts with trainer Buboy Fernandez (above) and talks to conditioning coach Justin Fortune (top). Photos by Wendell Alinea.
Fortune said Pacquiao, actually is as strong as when he was knocking out those who crossed his path and as fast as when he was eluding the best who tried to outpace him.
?A puncher is always puncher, a speedster is always speedster. A strong puncher might diminish his power, yes, but they can recover that power through extensive and effective training program,? he asserted.
?And that?s what we?ll be targeting in the training regimen we just set in place,? Buboy butted in. ?there?s still a lot of room for improvement of Manny?s arsenal. Nakita na namin ang mga yun at pagtutuunan na lamang ng pansin mula ngayon at sa darating pang walong linggo ng prepeparasyon.?
Pacquiao and Broner exchange punches on January 19 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, the Filipino champ?s first fight in American soil in two years.
Fortune said there?s no doubt Broner is not that bad a fighter. ?He?s smarter, stronger and faster than Matthysse. But I doubt if he can outsmart Manny, who is a little stronger and a lot quicker than him.?
?We?re also sure he?ll come out prepared with his game plan. But we, too, have game plans A, B and even C. And we?ll be sticking to them. Our plans are aimed at dismantling their plan,? he said with a wide grin.
Buboy asserted that he?s been watching tapes of Broner?s latest fights and discovered his weaknesses, most of which the challenger seemed unable to correct. ?Doon naming binase ang aming strategy we plan to use against him.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boston Returns to East Finals; Dallas A Win Away for the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 16 May 2024Arca Continues to Pursue Coveted IM Norm in Vietnam Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 May 2024Martin joins Pinoy invasion
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 16 May 2024Media Workout: Fury & Usyk T-3 Days From Making Heavyweight History
Thu, 16 May 2024ESPN and Top Rank Present DAZN on ESPN+ PPV Event: Undisputed Heavyweight Title Showdown Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Thu, 16 May 2024FIERRO AND RIVERA LAND TITLE FIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO
Thu, 16 May 2024Tayden Beltran vs Cesar Villarraga Headlines CBN Promotions June 22 Show
Thu, 16 May 2024Puerto Rican National Champion Carlos De León Castro Signs with Boxlab Promotions
Thu, 16 May 2024Cavite tops Cagayan in Armageddon
Thu, 16 May 2024The Past Week in Action 13 May 2024: Lomachenko Stops Kambosos; Guevara Edges Andrew Moloney; Tapales KOs Jangkaew in 1
By Eric Armit, Wed, 15 May 2024Denver, New York Overwhelm Semis Foes; One Win Away from W-E Conf Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 15 May 2024Misamis joins PSL Mindanao Regional Finals
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 15 May 2024Mexican Boxing Legends Rally Behind Emanuel Navarrete's Historic Bid to Become a Four-Division World Champion
Wed, 15 May 2024Legendary Panama Al Brown Inducted into NYSBHOF
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 15 May 2024Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk Make Grand Arrivals ahead of Saturday's UNDISPUTED SHOWDOWN
Wed, 15 May 2024