By Karl Freitag
A huge media turnout were on hand for Manny Pacquiao media day at the Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Pacquiao looked explosive in his workout, but you won't be seeing it on the evening news. All cameras were required to be turned off while Pacquiao sparred with Jose Armando Santa Cruz. "There's too many people in my gym," Roach told *********.com. Freddie said that Manny is currently at 129 pounds and has lost none of his speed at the higher weight. Pacquiao's last day of sparring will be on Monday, at which point Team Pacquiao will drive from L.A. into Las Vegas. His March 19 PPV opponent Erik Morales will be arriving in Las Vegas by jet from Mexico on Tuesday. (Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank)
Tuesday, March 8 2005
Pacquiao Gets Mobbed by US Media
By Winchell C. Campos
mannypacquiao.ph
March 9, 2005
Boxer Manny Pacquiao gets ready for a workout Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at the Wild Card Gym in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Pacquiao, 39-2-2 (30 KOs), from The Philippines, and Erik Morales, 47-2 (34 KOs), from Mexico, not seen, will face each other in a battle of three-time world champions, Saturday, March 19, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LOS ANGELES—Gauging by the huge turnout of US-based media personalities during Tuesday’s press workout hosted by Manny Pacquiao, his March 19 battle with Erik Morales will surely be a media event that is going to catch everyone’s attention.
Anxious mediamen even didn’t let Pacquiao dress up and tape his hands as they started throwing questions and shooting photographs as soon as the “Pacman” alighted from his SUV. The charismatic People’s Champion didn’t mind answering questions even under the searing heat of the sun, without the aid of an interpreter.
Scribes from several national dailies and distinguished boxing writers showed how popular Pacquiao has become in the US by waiting in line for a chance to shoot their questions. Writers from the Latino community and the Filipino press were also at hand to see Pacquiao in action.
“I never thought that Pacquiao was this good. I saw his previous fight with (Juan Manuel) Marquez and he is not the one-dimensional fighter that many writers claim,” said a Latino writer, who requested that his name not be printed. “It is going to be a war when he meets Morales,” he added.
Pacquiao sparred with the tall and unbeaten Jose Sta. Cruz (18-0) as well as Raymundo Beltran and completely dominated every round. In the last round, he let Beltran punch with gusto to his midsection until the end of the round, drawing oohs and aahs from the appreciative crowd who believed that the Filipino has reached peak form.
Trainer Freddie Roach requested that the sparring sessions wouldn’t be taped or photos be taken with flash bulbs but still Pacquiao proved that his readiness is enough material for the mediamen to cover.
While Pacquiao held an open workout, there was not much news about Morales, who is reportedly still in the mountains of Mexico City training for his “comeback” fight after losing to arch-rival and fellow Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera last year.
Pacquiao said he still has some adjustments to make as he wanted to move more freely and more relaxed, feeling that he was a little bit tense and tight.
“I am expected to log in at least 160 rounds of sparring until we close camp on Monday and this fight will be the hardest that I have ever prepared for,” said Pacquiao, who weighed in at an unofficial 129 pounds, one pound below the limit despite eating his heart out.
“I will not make any prediction for this fight but I will assure you that I will give my best for all my fans to see. I hope they watch me on March 19 at the MGM Grand or on pay-per-view,” said Pacquiao, smiling, as he sounded like a salesman.
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