Manny challenges Team Pacquiao
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Apr 2009
Los Angeles, CA (3/31/?09) ? Today was officially the start of the weight-loss challenge for Team Pacquiao. It seems like it is becoming a ritual for Team Pacquiao, that just before a mega-fight of Manny, they can get lighter, slimmer? and of course, richer.
BWAA Boxer of the Year for 2008 Manny Pacquiao indeed has done it again! He has challenged his team members and select group of friends to lose weight during the next 26 days and have the chance to earn $3,000.00 U.S. Dollars.
The task at hand seems simple, the only thing you have to do is lose weight (10% of your body weight from the initial weight taken this morning at the Palazzo Apartment) and win some money when the final weigh-in takes place on April 26 from 2-6 pm at the same place and using the same weighing scale used today.
Only this time, the participants are not allowed to use any medication like the diuretic Lasix, diet pills and others to achieve such goal. ?I don?t want anybody to get sick, I need for you to exercise and diet correctly so you can be able to lose the necessary weight as I do,? said Manny Pacquiao during the brief pre-weigh in meeting where all the rules were set, having as witness present the crew from HBO filming for Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 to include this significant event.
On April 11th, the HBO Series 24/7 will show the Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7. This will be a four-part series leading up to their May 2 junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Being in the medical profession, this writer believes that losing weight can be beneficial which lead to a healthier heart, lower cholesterol and Blood Pressure. However, it should be done thru a reasonable diet regimen in combination with regular exercise and not by irrational, drastic measures.
This morning, a total of 35 people accepted the challenge, weighing 6229 pounds in total that will need to face a rigorous diet and a lot of exercise in order to be eligible for the $ 3,000 prize money.
The biggest challenge will be for heavyweight Alex Oreto, who weighed-in at 260 pounds, he will have to lose 26 pounds or 1 pound a day starting tomorrow, which seem very difficult to do. When Manny asked him, ?Can you do it?? and he replied without hesitation, ?Of course!?
Manny?s Filipino trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri both weighed the same at 220 lbs.
But this is not just a ?boys? thing; three ladies accepted the challenge made by the best pound per pound fighter namely Marie Escudero, Michelle Fuentes and Candy Luna.
If everyone this morning make the desired weight, PacMan will stand to pay more than $ 100,000 dollars which is less than 1% of his guaranteed purse for his mega-fight against the Englishman Ricky ?Hitman? Hatton, undefeated at 140 lbs. and current IBO Jr. Welterweight Champ.
Well, Team Pacquiao and friends have nothing to lose by participating in this event, except - their weight!
According to Winchell Campos, during the afternoon, an additional 25 people participated in today?s weigh-in bringing the total count to 60 participants. Manny would need to pay an additional $ 75,000 should they all lose 10 % of their body weight in 3 ? weeks, bringing the total amount to $ 180,000 which is 1.5% of his fight purse.
?Manny is being too generous,? stated his publicist Winchell Campos.
PacMan gave a final advise to the participants. ?Don?t worry if you don?t make weight after starving yourself for almost 1 month. There will be a consolation prize for you.? Everyone in the room asked, ?What is it??
He replied, ?Food?, and then he burst into laughter.
Top photo: Buboy Fernandez at the scales with his training partner Nonoy Neri, this writer and others look on. The PacMan (sitting down) all smiles being filmed for HBO 24/7. (Photo by Reiver Rodriguez)
Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao checking his personal weighing scale as long time Team Pacquiao member Edward Lura (R) looks over. HBO crew (L) can be seen filming at background. (Photo by Reiver Rodriguez)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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