By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISON world champion Manny Pacquiao has arrived in Los Angeles and was all smiles as he was greeted by scores of supporters and media.

Pacquiao, who had two weeks of training at his Pacman Wild Card Gym in his hometown of General Santos City, looked good but conceded that he wants to improve on his speed, which most boxing aficionados believe will be a crucial factor in his multi-million dollar showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2.

Pacquiao is expected to begin working out at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach on Tuesday (Manila time), while he waits for the return of his trainer from Macau, where he is handling China’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming in his March 7 title fight against International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng.

Not to be left behind, Mayweather, the undefeated World Boxing Council welterweight champion and the undisputed pound-for-pound king, has also started training in his Las Vegas Gym.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports that Mayweather had started training already and just loosening up.

Ariza said he would consult with Mayweather on the strength and conditioning program he has  drawn up for the WBC champion before they step up preparations for the Pacquiao fight.

American trainer Rick Staheli, who handled Pacquiao when he won his first world title with a spectacular eighth-round knockout over Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998, told BoxingScene/Manila Standard that Pacquiao is a much more complete fighter now, recalling that when he won his first world title, “he was a raw puncher in those early days, but he is now the complete package.”

Despite this, Staheli said beating Mayweather is a very tough ask. “The style of Floyd will give Manny problems, as shown by his four fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, a counter puncher. Mayweather is bigger, better and a faster version of Marquez and is an absolute genius defensively,” Staheli said.