“We’ve covered all bases” – Fortune
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Aug 2021
Armed with a long, three-month training that started in General Santos City, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao motors to Las Vegas on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) where he will retrace the memory of his encounter with African Lehlo Ledwaba when he fights Cuban Yordenis Ugas August 21 (August 22 in Manila) at the T-Mobile Arena.
On June 23, 2001, the then still unknown Pacquiao, stepped into the ring as a two-week replacement, fought and TKOed Ledwaba to win the latter’s IBF super-bantamweight belt before an impressed overflow crowd at the MGM Arena and millions more around the world.
This is same situation Ugas is in when he meets the Filipino great six days from now. As then, the Cuban has been installed underdog but whether he can pull off the surprise Pacquiao fashioned out on way the crowning himself the only creature to win world championships in eight weight divisions is the million dollar question the defending champion has to answer.
The now 42-year-old fighting senator on Thursday last week has been pronounced in razor sharp and ready to fight any day from today to reclaim the WBA super welterweight crown taken away from him and given gratis et amore to Ugas seven months ago last January, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Justin Fortune, told this writer in an interview on the day he announced Pacquiao’s readiness.
Spence, owner of both the WBC ang IBF belts was originally supposed to fight the Filipino fighting senator in that August 21 mainer but suffered a retina tear in his left eye and replaced by the 35-year-old Ugas, who was in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Spence title setto.
“Manny’s good, very good and ready to meet and win over Errol Spence Jr., or Ugas, or whoever crosses his path if only to recapture the championship denied him without throwing a single punch,” the Australian conditioning guru who is now based in L.A. denounced, echoing the same sentiment expressed by training consultant Freddie roach in a separate talk.
Pacquiao's training team pose at the Wildcard Gym Saturday, August 14 after the conclusion of Pacquiao's Los Angeles camp.
“Manny hates the guy and that gives him additional motivation to win and be the champion again as he should’ve been,” Roach said following Saturday’s sparring session when he punished dancing mate AB Lopez in four rounds of no holds bar skirmish.
“Manny’s in tip-top shape, physically and mentally and if he’s in those situations, he could be dangerous and unbeatable,” Roach assured.
“We've covered all the bases in our efforts to follow to the letter our build up program since Manny and his team arrived here in L.A. last July 5,” Fortune attested. ”He’s adjusted well in the sudden change of opponent, from a left-handed Spence to a right-handed Ugas.”
Pacquiao and his team composed of chief trainer Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Roger “Haplas” Fernandez and Marvin Somodio will close L.A.’s Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood on the day the group motors to Nevada’s sin city following a light morning workout.
“Nothing much we can do in our last week to the fight, except to try to maintain all we’ve gain in the first two legs of training,” Fortune disclosed. “Everything’s is already in place, so we’ll leave it at that.”
“We’ll just have to determine what Ugas can bring on the table and what we can do to counter them,“ he said.
"Except if Manny asks for some gym activities, we’ll spend Tuesday and Wednesday morning on the road then Buboy and the rest of the training team and Manny should he decides will be watching tapes of Ugas' latest fight," he added.
Usually, Freddie will not schedule any activity on Thursday for preparations of official weigh-in on Friday and fight day Saturday night.
Nobody could say whether the traditional 30 to 40-car convoy will still be maintained in deference to the Covid-19 pandemic. The usual Pacquiao airconditioned tourist bus carrying other members of the entourage, including parents and relatives of Pacquao and wife Jinkee has been dispensed with.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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