PACQUIAO: "I'M A COMPLETE FIGHTER"
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jan 2019
LOS ANGELES: ?The killer instinct is back. The speed and power are there. I?m a complete fighter again.?
With these words, Filipino World Boxing Association welterweight kingpin Manny Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) declared himself ready to defend his title come January 19 and return to the country still champion.
Pacquiao battles challenger Adrien Broner six days from now on Saturday at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas hoping to make his countrymen happy again as he has been doing the past 24 years as a prizeghter.
?Yeah, that?s true. I have recovered my killer instinct, my aggressiveness. The speed the power. Thank God,? the now 40-year-old ring warrior told this writer immediately after completing a four-round sparring with welterweight Arnold Gonzalez that actually closed the door on the Wild Card training camp here.
?No, I?m not predicting anything. What I?m saying I?m ready to fight. We just had a very good training camp. And I would like to thank my training team, Buboy (Fernandez) Justin (Fortune), Noy (Neri) and Haplas (Fernandez) for the good job they?ve done since we pitched camp in Manila,? the eight-division world champ said.
Manny Pacquiao does mitts with trainer Buboy Fernandez during the last day of Pacquiao's Los Angeles camp Saturday, Jan. 12. Team Pacquiao and entourage will drive to Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 14 for the fight week activities culminating on fight night on Saturday.
Team Pacquiao poses for a photo at the close of the Pacquiao camp in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 12.
?And, of course, Freddie (Roach), who?ve contributed a lot in everything we did, especially when we moved here in LA.
?Fans, lalo na ang ang mga kababayan ay matutuwa na naman. Like in my previous fights, I?ll do my best. Hindi sila mabibigo,? he assured.
?Manny?s there na. Handang handa na. Nakita natin kung kumilos ngayon parang noong 2009 pa ang talunin si (Ricky) Hatton, (Miguel) Cotto) at noong 2010 nang kunin ang super-welterweight title kay (Antonio) Margarito,? Buboy for his part, reminisced.
?One hundred percent, that?s how ready Manny is,? Fortune and Roach chorused.
Boxing fans all over the world, especially in the Philippines, according to Fortune, ?will be happy seeing their idol fight on Saturday. They sure will see a new Manny Pacquiao.?
Pacquiao, his team, supporters and followers will drive in a long convoy of some 40 cars, sports cars and a tour bus to fight site in La Vegas Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
A brief practice session with mitts will precede the parade shortly after lunch, Fortune said. ?No more sparring in Vegas starting Monday although another short gym activity is scheduled Tuesday.?
A complete rest will follow on Wednesday and Thursday before the weigh in on Friday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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