AFTER what his trainer termed as the best training camp he ever had in the country, boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao left for the U.S. last night to resume his training at his old abode — at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles. Accompanied by Freddie Roach, assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and other members of his entourage, the 32-year-old fighting congressman from Sarangani left Manila at around 10 p.m. on board Philippine Airlines flight PR 102 for the 13-hour straight flight to L.A.
Team Pacquiao is expected to arrive in the U.S. just before noon Sunday in Manila.
Prior to his departure, a sendoff party was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel Saturday night where friends and supporters wished the champion in his May 7 defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Sugar Shane Mosley.
Saturday’s scheduled sparring at the Elorde gym was cancelled at the last minute to give Pacman enough rest for his grinding evening flight to the U.S.
The world’s top pound-for-pound fighter had spent the last three weeks training in the high-altitude of Baguio in what Roach considered as the best camp Pacquiao had in the country’s Summer Capital.
Sparring began only this week, with Pacman going nine rounds against regular sparmates Shawn Porter and David Rodela at the Shape Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel.
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 distractions 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,” admitted Roach.
“I’m looking forward to lesser distractions because we need to focus.”
Still, Roach acknowledges that Pacquiao has been doing good in the camp despite a six-month layoff following his lopsided 12-round decision 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 then departs for Las Vegas on May 2 or a good five days before the 12-round bout at the MGM Grand.
Gerry Ramos, Journal Online
