Roach looks forward to the L.A. stage of Pacquiao?s training
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 09 Mar 2014
Barring a drastic change in plans, Manny Pacquiao would have taken a Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles last night and set foot on the world?s entertainment capital?s soil early morning of the same day.
The Pambansang Kamao, chief trainer Freddie Roach told this writer in a telephone interview, was asking for another more week to stay in his General Santos training camp because of his wife Jinkee?s pregnancy (she is supposed to give birth to their fifth child sometime next month).
?We all know Manny, unless you see him boarding the plane, you can?t be sure,? Roach said with a chuckle. ?But as far as I am concerned, the scheduled trip to L.A. stands.?
?I don?t want to waste the gains Manny earned in his four weeks of training here, two weeks of which spent with me, that?s why I really want him to be in L.A. first week of March the latest,? Roach, who turned 54 last Wednesday, reasoned out.
As far as Pacquiao?s business consultant Michael Koncz, last night?s trip to L.A. would push through as schedule to resume his build-up program there in preparation for his coming rematch with American World Boxing Organization welterweight belt holder Timothy Bradley on April 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The former pound-for-pound best, for his part, in an earlier separate interview Wednesday, did not insinuate the possibility of postponing the trip, even saying that his Sarangarani vice Governor wife is scheduled last week of April yet.
Roach added though that if Pacquiao is really worried about Jinkee?s condition and wants to extend the GenSan camp for another week, he will gladly consent.
?It?s about Jinkee and I understand his feeling,? Roach said. ?I don?t think another week here won?t affect much our calendar,? he assured. ?Manny?s in shape with still five more weeks before the fight, he can easily catch up. ?We?re way ahead of schedule, anyway.?
?Manny?s his own man. He knows how to pace himself. Two weeks before I arrived here, he?s been in intense preparation already. Reason why when we started sparring, he was already ready, making it easier for us to continue with his regimen,? Roach explained.
Proof of Roach?s statement was Pacman, in fact, even went to his scheduled 11 a.m. seven-round sparring session yesterday with Oklahoma-base mate Lydell Rhodes in his Wild Card Gym in the heart of GenSan.
After yesterday?s workout, Team Pacquiao, that also include Roach, assistants trainers Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Roger ?Haplas? Fernandez and Mexican strength and conditioning coach Cicilio Flores were scheduled to fly via a private plane owned by bosom friend Chavit Singson direct to the Ninoy International Airport where they will take the connecting PAL flight to the United States.
While the eight-division champion had undergone a rigorous buildup regimen here, Roach disclosed it will be tougher when Pacquiao gets to his L.A. Wild Card sweat shop where three more sparring mates ? ex-World Boxing Organization junior-welterweight titlist Kendall Holt, former International Boxing Federation lightweight belt-owner Steve Forbes ? await him.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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