THE OLD PACQUIAO IS BACK
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 03 Dec 2012
LOS ANGELES (PNA via PCSO)- The world loved Manny Pacquiao when he stopped Oscar DeLa Hoya in the ninth round in 2008, in the process forcing the American Olympic gold medalist to retirement. They applauded, too, when the Filipino boxing hero took only two rounds in putting Ricky Hatton to dreamland and Miguel Cotto not being able to finish their 12-round showdown both in 2009.
And if the only man to win eight world championships in as many weight divisions and his trainer Freddie Roach are to be believed, Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez would meet the same fate the three suffered in that 12-month stretch bridging Pacquiao?s campaign in 2008 and 2009 when the two fight for the fourth time on December 8 at the MGM Grand.
?Manny?s back where he was before, explosive and skillfull and plenty of killer instinct,? Roach said after his pupil of 12 years completed his five-week training camp last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood here.
?He?s as powerful as he was five years ago and quicker, I think JuanMa will have his hands full this time,? he added as he assured boxing fans that the former pound-for-pound king will finally end all doubts that accompanied their three previous encounters.
?Okay na okay na ako. I?m 100 percent ready at puede nang lumaban kahit bukas,? Pacquiao, for his part, assured as he echoed his Hall of Fame trainer?s observation.
?Yung target naming na bumalik ako sa panahong 24, 25 years old ako nandun na,? the 33-year-old Sarangani Province Congressman said. ?Sa a-otso ng Disyembre malalaman na talaga kung yung dalawang panalo sa kanya ay hindi kontrobersyal gaya ng paniwala ng iba.?
In the course of his five-week stint in LA, Pacquiao sparred with at least five sparring partners, knocking down one of them four times it only to prove that the power and quickness of his hands are still there and the speed in his legs had not abandoned him.
?Manny?s all focused everyday in the camp, that I assure everyone,? Roach said. ?There was not a single distraction. Even his Bible study which to some served as distraction was controlled.?
?I have never seen him so serious in his preparations as he has been here. He?s all ears, in fact, to what I have been telling him to do. He is again listening to me,? Roach said with a smile. ?Manny?s been very happy with what we?ve been doing and when he?s happy, he can do everything.?
Told that Marquez, too, has been doing very well in his training and has, in fact, been adding muscle to achieve his similar goal of winning via knockout, Roach said: ?Good for us. Big man always lose to small fast man.?
?Good,? Pacquiao for his part, butted in. ?That means he will not be running as he had done in our first three fights.?
Proof that Pacquiao is, indeed, ready and in fine fighting shape, he went through several round doing the mitts with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez after six rounds of sparring against Jessie Roman and promising welterweight Frankie Gomez at three rounds each.
A four-round skirmish with the duo Monday before the team leaves for Las Vegas complete the more or less 100 rounds of skirmishes, Roach said.
?There will no more sparring when we get to Vegas where what we will be doing is try to maintain what we have gained here. Roadwork will continue though as far as maintaining his physical condition is concerned,? he added.
Credentials
LOS ANGELES (via PCSO) ? The Philippines? pride Manny Pacquiao and his team motor to Las Vegas Monday (Tuesday in Manila) for the final leg of his preparations for his coming fourth fight against long-time rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao and Marquez will meet each other anew on December 8 (December 9 Manila time) at the MGM Grand Arena in that gambling capital of the world to determine once and-for-all who between them is the better fighter following three previous confrontations that left more questions than answers.
The duo will meet again on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) for the traditional ?Grand Arrival? ceremony at MGM Grand?s main lobby, announced Magda Media international, the public relations group that represents Top Rank, Inc., HBO Pay Preview and MGM Resorts International.
Magna Media, meanwhile, will start releasing credentials of media men authorized to cover the 12-round fight on the same day and at the same place.The main event press conference has been scheduled at 12:30 p.m.on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at the Hollywood Theater after a media luncheon at noon, the Magda Media advisory said. The actual fight credentials, according to Magna Media can be claimed throughout the day on Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the ?Old VIP Box Office? located at the Southeast corner of the MGM Grand Arena.
The undercard press conference is scheduled on Thursday, December 6 at the Media center (Studio Rooms A and B).
Top Photo - Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao listens intently as trainer Freddie Roach gives him instructions at the height of another intensive training session Saturday at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. (Photo by WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA via PCSO)
Manny Pacquiao looks focused and serious in doing the mitts with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez at the close of his five-week training camp at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Pacmania at the Wild Card Gym
(Photos by WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA via PCSO)
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