PACQUIAO POSTPONES DEPARTURE FOR WILD CARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Mar 2007
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao postponed his planned departure for Los Angeles yesterday and says he now hopes to leave on Mach 14 which will be one month before his April 14 showdown with undefeated Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas.
Pacquiao's decision to continue training in his hometown was probably influenced by the fact that celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is working with Oscar De La Hoya in Puerto Rico and he will have to train under Roach's assistant Justin Fortune at the Wild Card.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who claims to have signed Pacquiao to a four year contract frowns on his training at Golden Boy's camp in Puerto Rico although Roach had invited Pacquiao to train there.
Pacquiao spoke to Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today shortly after a sparring session at the ABAP Gym in his hometown of General Santos City. Trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez handled the training along with Nonoy Neri.
Pacquiao said he felt good after sparring with two taller and bigger fighters, welterweight Jesar Ancajas and the Philippines No. 2 lightweight contender Aaron Melgarejo.
In the face of criticism about his plan to run for the congressional seat of South Cotabato while at the same time preparing for his fight with Solis, Pacquiao said he is perfectly capable of handling both tasks.
Pacquiao indicated that people should not underestimate him like they did when hardly anybody gave him a chance of winning the WBC flyweight title against Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul and later the IBF junior featherweight crown against Lelohonolo Ledwaba.
In an earlier interview with Viva Sports, Pacquiao said he knows he cannot take any chances against the 5’10” Solis and was training hard to make sure he would win. Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach warned Pacquiao that Solis was a dangerous opponent especially since Pacquiao had too many distractions and did not have enough time to train.
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