PACQUIAO TELLS FANS NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HIS TRAINING/Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao told his concerned countrymen not to worry about his hectic schedule and the lack of training time for his “Fire Power” showdown with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14.
At a well-attended news conference at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas, Pacquiao said he understands his supporters concern and worry about his training regimen but assured them he was used to an eight week training stint which was perfect.
Pacquiao recalled that when he trained for more than eight weeks for a fight as he did a few times before he was “over-trained and my condition was not good when I entered the ring. When I train for eight weeks my condition is really good” pointing to his fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton whom he demolished.
Pacquiao said he pushes himself hard in training an averages 34 rounds a day in his workouts while the fight is only twelve rounds at most.
Pacquiao made it clear he is not taking Cotto lightly because “for one thing he is bigger and he is not a dumb fighter . He knows what he’s doing and he's good . I cannot take him for granted.”
While conceding that at times he doesn’t get enough sleep because of his numerous commitments shooting movies, TV shows and endorsements Pacquiao said “ I find time for me to rest and ensure that I’m not too tired.”
Pacquiao, who looked trim and fit told us in an interview for the weekly boxing show “The Main Event” that he weighed 150 pounds and unknown to many was actually quietly getting into physical condition for what he conceded would be a tough fight.
Although he had chosen Baguio City as the site for his training camp and longtime friend and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez was in Baguio checking on the facilities, Pacquiao indicated they would still “discuss it” in terms of how long he would train in Baguio before moving to the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles.
He said he was sure that after the promotional tour in the US which kicks-off at the famed Yankee Stadium in New York on September 10 and ends in San Diego on September 14, Roach would accompany him when he returns home to begin training.
Asked about his sometimes controversial adviser Michael Koncz who was assailed by Roach and a couple of others in the Pacquiao camp, the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter said “he doesn’t make any decisions. He follows my instructions and does what I want. He works hard. He is loyal to me and diligent and I believe in him.”
