By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino ring sensation Manny Pacquiao had what boxing manager and promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud described as "a good workout" at Salud’s gym in Cebu City Thursday afternoon.
Pacquiao who is forced to push himself in training to make-up for his late nights shooting a movie, participating in cockfighting derbies and playing pool told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he skipped rope, shadow boxed, worked on the speed ball and the punch-mitts with trainer Nonoy Neri and " felt good." He told his fans not to worry about his condition and that he would be ready come fight time.
Pacquiao who has to cram to get into top shape for his September 10 bout against 30 year old Mexican Hector Velasquez who has won four of his last five fights by knockouts said he would be in Manila Friday to meet with Mike Pingol, a top official of Motolite regarding a possible TV commercial and planned to work out at the L&M Gym later today. Pacquiao has always considered the L&M Gym a "lucky charm" and makes it a point to train there even for a short period before a big fight.
When Pacquiao was held to a draw by Juan Manuel Marquez he only passed by the gym en route to the airport while he didn't train at L&M Gym at all before his loss to Erik "El Terrible" Morales. However, before all of his other fights he made it a point to train at L&M Gym in downtown Manila.
Meantime, respected Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer said he would know by the weekend whether WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista would fight on the same card as Pacquiao on September 10 at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Aldeguer said Top Rank Inc., promoter Bob Arum reportedly told Los Angeles based Michael Koncz he was interested in featuring Bautista on the undercard where Erik Morales battles Zahir Raheem in the main event.
The proposed opponent of Bautista is Gerardo Martinez, another Mexican with a record of 27-5-2 with 20 knockouts. Martinez who is 30 years old is coming of a ten round unanimous decision over Erik Lopez last July 14.
