"Babawi Tayo" - Pacquiao
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Mar 2014
Ring sensation Manny Pacquiao left Manila for Los Angeles Saturday night vowing to win back the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship he and the entire boxing world believe was robbed of him two years ago.
Pacquiao and his team, including chief trainer Freddie Roach were expected to land in the land of sugar and honey early Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) for the second stop of his preparations for his coming grudge rematch on April 12 with undefeated American Timothy Bradley, the man who took the 147-pound title from him two years ago.
"Babawi tayo (we'll avenge), pakisabi lang sa mga kababayan natin. That's a promise," Pacquiao told this writer in a telephone interview shortly before enplaning Philippine Airline flight 102 that was to bring him and party to the entertainment capital of the world where he will continue his build-up regimen that started four weeks in his hometown General Santos City.
"Babawiin natin ang korona at ibabalik dito sa Pilipinas. I'm in razor-sharp shape following the GenSan camp. Maybe not yet as sharp as we would have expected to be comes fight night, but I assure you we're on schedule to attain that right on April 12," he said.
The fighting Congressman of the lone district of Sarangani Province was all praises to the efforts of assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez, brother Roger and Nonoy Neri in setting the stage for Roach taking over preparations two weeks ago.
"The GenSan camp was superb, everything was taken cared of and in place. We have identified the things we still lack which we intend to solve in L.A. For the things we gained, well, all we have to do is improve on them," the 35-year-old 'fighter of the decade' assessed.
"Gusto ko lang iparating sa ating mga kababayan na nais malaman kung ano na ang nangyari sa GenSan camp na umasa silang na si Manny Pacquiao nakahanda na mmuling lumaban para sa kanila paara mabigyan sila ng karagdagang pagasa na sa kabila ng mga sinapit nating paghihirap dala ng bagyo lindo at iba pang mga pangyayari ay kaya nesting magbangon at mamuhay ng ayon sa ating kagustuhan," he said.
"I might sound repetitious and like a broken record, pero walang sawa kong uulit-ulitin ito, ang laban ito ay para sa kanila, sa 97 milyong Pilipino na sa bawat laban ko ay nasa likod ko at sumusuporta sa pamamagitgan ng kanilang panalangin, Pacquiao said. "Suportang nagbibigay sa akin ng lakas para itayo ang ating bandera."
"I would also like to relay to them that, while I am away nag-e-ensayo ats lalaban, sila pa rin ang nasaisip ko. Nasa pangaraw-araw na dasal ko na huwag na nila muling danasin ang dinanas nila noong nakaraang taon," he said.
"Gaya nang dati, hihingi akong muli ng panalangin sa kanila na sana'y iligtas ako sa anumang sakuna sa biyaheng ito, sa training ko sa L.A. at sa paglaban ko sa Las Vegas," the former pound-for-pound king said.
The father of four with wife, Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, who is expecting their fifth child late April, added that like what he promised in his fight with Brandon Rios last November, losing is not an option in this 12-round rematch with Bradley.
"No, we are preparing not to lose," he emphasized. "We are preparing to win and be champion again because that what we were until three people who called themselves judges deprived us of that honor. Mananalo tayo at kung papaano ay yun ang paghahandaan naming pagdating sa L.A."
Besides unbeaten Lydell Rhodes, who had been sparring with him the past two weeks at his version of the Wild Card Gym in GenSan, three more mates awaits Pacquiao at the Roach version of Wild Card set shop in the heart of Hollywood -- former champs Kendall Holt and Steve Forbes and Mexican Speedy Gonzales.
Pacquiao takes a needed respite the whole day Sunday before plunging into training anew Monday, according to Roach. Like in his previous fights and unless the need occurs, sparring will on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.
Veteran strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune will take care of Pacquiao's stamina-building chores. He will be assisted by Mexican Cicilio Flores, who did the job in GenSan.
Photo: Pacquiao makes the thumbs up sign upon arriving in Los Angeles Saturday. Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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