By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao has been hospitalized because of over fatigue after doctors said he needed to rest following a hectic two-week schedule shooting commercials and playing pool.
Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant, promoter and boxing manager Rex “Wakee” Salud confirmed that Pacquiao was confined at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in San Juan. Salud revealed that Pacquiao had “no sleep for several days because of endorsements and playing pool.” Salud said the incredibly popular fighter hadn’t rested “for some two weeks” and needed to get a good rest
for a couple of days.
In an overseas interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, trainer Freddie Roach indicated he was concerned about Pacquiao’s penchant for late nights.
Roach said he plans to fly to the Philippines with the head of Pacquiao’s management team Shelly Finkel on Friday to finalize details of the fight against former super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios set for late June or early July at the Araneta Coliseum, the acknowledged “Mecca” of Philippine sports and entertainment.
Roach also indicated that promoter Gary Shaw whose two-fight deal with Pacquiao “was over with” had no reason to join them on the Manila trip. “Why would he come?” asked Roach. There were earlier reports that all was not well in the relations between Roach and Shaw.
The trainer who has acted like a father and a friend to Pacquiao and has earned the respect and affection of Pacquiao disclosed that despite conflicting reports that the Larios was off and on, the fight was “done.”
The Larios fight will be staged by the giant television network ABS-CBN which will underwrite the costs including the purses of both fighters which is expected to total around $1.5 million. ABS-CBN will also handle the television coverage both in the Philippines and through The Filipino Channel or TFC and is expected to work out details for a pay-per-view telecast in the US.