Manny arranges safety protocols
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 Aug 2021
LAS VEGAS. In this pandemic, Manny Pacquiao isn’t taking any chances of infection and has arranged daily tests conducted by the Grapevine Home Health Care Services for his entire team wherever he is until his return to Manila. Grapevine’s Dr. Louis Rodriguez and nurse Angel Ortega set up a mobile testing facility at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles to screen Pacquiao's visitors.
“We love Manny and we want to keep him and everyone around him safe,” said Dr. Rodriguez who has been a medical practitioner for 22 years. At Wild Card, the protocol was to test each visitor on a daily basis at Pacquiao’s expense. Even visitors to Pacquiao’s home in Los Angeles were tested. Since Pacquiao’s arrival here last Monday, Grapevine continues to do nasal swab rapid tests on visitors so results are found out within minutes. Beyond the rapid tests, Dr. Rodriguez said Grapevine is equipped to administer RT PCR tests twice a week and inject vaccines of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.
Grapevine has three medical centers, including a hospice, in Riverside County with a staff of 170. The set-up at Wild Card was temporary. “I’ve been following Manny’s career,” said Dr. Rodriguez, a UCLA graduate. “When we were contacted to protect Manny and his team, of course, we were honored and excited to do it. We’ll do everything to keep him safe. We’ve been involved in safety protocols for the WBC so it’s not our first time in boxing.”
Dr. Rodriguez, 57, said Grapevine’s services cover Pacquiao to protect him for his fight against WBA welterweight super champion Yordenis Ugas at the T-Mobile Arena here on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time). The pandemic hasn’t spared fighters from going down with the virus and boxing cards have been rearranged or cancelled because of infections. It’s the reason why Pacquiao contracted Grapevine to make sure the virus won’t get in the way of obstructing the fight.
Ortega, 53, assists Dr. Rodriguez in conducting the tests. Once a visitor tests negative, Ortega straps an orange wrist band to allow access. Without the band, nobody is permitted to come close to Pacquiao or anyone who is in contact with him.
Pacquiao recently hired Dr. Sean Hampton, a physiotherapist, to keep his muscles, arms and legs loose and relaxed. Dr. Hampton’s treatment has given Pacquiao more bounce in his step, something he’ll rely on in outpacing Ugas. Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said he’s in the best shape of his career at 42 and if the fight goes the distance, he won’t tire. Former WBC secretary-general and TV boxing analyst Eduardo Lamazon said, “Ugas is good, I like him but against Manny, nothing to do … Pacquiao by decision.” Fortune said Pacquiao will knock Ugas out and score a convincing victory.
Photo: Manny Paquiao shows the negative result of his Covid test from Dr. Ortega. With Pacquiao is his assistant David Sisson.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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