Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao left for the United States on Saturday night for the final phase of his training camp for his May 7 World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight against Sugar Shane Mosley. The 32-year-old Filipino, who is also a member of Congress representing the Sarangani province's lone district, boarded Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 102 at around 10 p.m.
Joining Pacquiao in the 13-hour trip to Los Angeles are coach Freddie Roach, assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, and other Team Pacquiao members.
The world's top pound-for-pound fighter is expected to arrive in the U.S. Sunday noon (Manila time).
A send off party was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel before Pacquiao's departure to the US early Saturday night.
His last scheduled sparring in Baguio City, set early in the day, was also cancelled at the last minute to give the eight-division world champion enough time to rest for his grinding flight to the U.S.
The reigning pound-for-pound king spent the last three weeks of his high-altitude training in Baguio City, in what Roach considered as the best camp Pacquiao had in the country's Summer Capital.
Sparring began only this week, with the "Pacman" going nine rounds against regular sparmates Shawn Porter and David Rodela at the Shape Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel in Baguio City.
But once in L.A., Pacquiao is expected to get an even heavier dose of sparring as two more sparmates are on standby, namely, welterweights Karim Mayfield and old hand Rashad Halloway.
The Wild Card gym likewise offers an environment that has lesser distraction for one of the most popular fighters in the world today.
"Training camp in Los Angeles will be totally different from the one we're having here (in the Philippines)," said Roach. "I'm looking forward to lesser distractions because we need to focus."
Still, Roach acknowledges that Pacquiao remains in good shape despite a six-month layoff after a 12-round destruction of Antonio Margarito last November for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight title.
"He's way ahead of schedule, although his timing and distance is not yet there," noted the four-time Trainer of the Year.
Pacquiao is expected to train for the whole month at the Wild Card gym and will leave for Las Vegas on May 2, a good five days before his 12-round bout at the MGM Grand.
