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I was not prepared mentally – Pacquiao
By nick giongco
“NEXT TIME, it’s going to be different.” These were the words that came out of Manny Pacquiao’s mouth as he vowed not to commit the same mistakes when he rumbles again with Erik Morales late this year in an expected grudge rematch.
Pacquiao humbly admitted he learned a lesson or two from that mega fight so there’s no reason why he would not emerge victorious the next time they slug it out.
"I believe I was not prepared mentally," Pacquiao told the Bulletin while resting at his room at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati. He is expected to be back in the ring in July against an opponent yet to be named in preparation for a return meeting with Morales late this year.
Pacquiao arrived yesterday morning on board a Philippine Airlines jet that took almost 18 hours to reach Manila from Los Angeles. The plane had to make a one-hour refueling stop in Honolulu before heading to the Philippines.
"Hindi naman ako kinapos. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit hindi ko magawa yung mga ginawa ko sa ensayo dahil nakita mo naman ang mga ikinilos ko sa Wild Card ‘di ba?" asked Pacquiao, who was joined in the trip back home by wife Jinkee and Filipino cornermen Lito Mondejar and Buboy Fernandez.
Pacquiao, 26, who dropped a close but unanimous decision to Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas one week ago, suggested that there had been too many distractions while he was training.
The Bulletin was witness to the things that Pacquiao said could have affected his condition in the fight.
On the eve of his departure for Las Vegas, his cell phone rang at 12 midnight and the fighter was awakened from his sleep, prompting him to throw the phone into the direction of one of his acquaintances in Los Angeles.
There was also an instance when Pacquiao had to get involved in the purchase of an airline ticket for an official of the Games and Amusements Board at a time when he should have already been in bed.
There were also several instances when his young friends – Filipinos living in Los Angeles – came and went out of his two-bedroom unit in Hollywood as though it was a bachelor’s pad.
Pacquiao was even involved in the distribution of fight tickets and jackets and shirts to a retinue of hangers-on and fans and relatives of those who suddenly became boxing fans.
And in one incident, some supporters of Pacquiao turned the receiving area of his suite at the MGM Grand into a mini casino with at least five persons playing card games.
"Aayusin kong lahat kung saan tayo nagkulang at nagkamali para sa susunod handang-handa," said Pacquiao.
Despite the negative things that happened days leading to the big fight, Pacquiao still praised Morales for coming into the fight armed to the teeth.
"Morales prepared hard, but when we meet again, it’s going to be different," said Pacquiao, who will meet with President Gloria Arroyo at Malacañang on Tuesday.
By nick giongco
“NEXT TIME, it’s going to be different.” These were the words that came out of Manny Pacquiao’s mouth as he vowed not to commit the same mistakes when he rumbles again with Erik Morales late this year in an expected grudge rematch.
Pacquiao humbly admitted he learned a lesson or two from that mega fight so there’s no reason why he would not emerge victorious the next time they slug it out.
"I believe I was not prepared mentally," Pacquiao told the Bulletin while resting at his room at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati. He is expected to be back in the ring in July against an opponent yet to be named in preparation for a return meeting with Morales late this year.
Pacquiao arrived yesterday morning on board a Philippine Airlines jet that took almost 18 hours to reach Manila from Los Angeles. The plane had to make a one-hour refueling stop in Honolulu before heading to the Philippines.
"Hindi naman ako kinapos. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit hindi ko magawa yung mga ginawa ko sa ensayo dahil nakita mo naman ang mga ikinilos ko sa Wild Card ‘di ba?" asked Pacquiao, who was joined in the trip back home by wife Jinkee and Filipino cornermen Lito Mondejar and Buboy Fernandez.
Pacquiao, 26, who dropped a close but unanimous decision to Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas one week ago, suggested that there had been too many distractions while he was training.
The Bulletin was witness to the things that Pacquiao said could have affected his condition in the fight.
On the eve of his departure for Las Vegas, his cell phone rang at 12 midnight and the fighter was awakened from his sleep, prompting him to throw the phone into the direction of one of his acquaintances in Los Angeles.
There was also an instance when Pacquiao had to get involved in the purchase of an airline ticket for an official of the Games and Amusements Board at a time when he should have already been in bed.
There were also several instances when his young friends – Filipinos living in Los Angeles – came and went out of his two-bedroom unit in Hollywood as though it was a bachelor’s pad.
Pacquiao was even involved in the distribution of fight tickets and jackets and shirts to a retinue of hangers-on and fans and relatives of those who suddenly became boxing fans.
And in one incident, some supporters of Pacquiao turned the receiving area of his suite at the MGM Grand into a mini casino with at least five persons playing card games.
"Aayusin kong lahat kung saan tayo nagkulang at nagkamali para sa susunod handang-handa," said Pacquiao.
Despite the negative things that happened days leading to the big fight, Pacquiao still praised Morales for coming into the fight armed to the teeth.
"Morales prepared hard, but when we meet again, it’s going to be different," said Pacquiao, who will meet with President Gloria Arroyo at Malacañang on Tuesday.
Gran Campeon
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