LOS ANGELES — Boxing took a backseat in Manny Pacquiao’s life on a Sunday that the Filipino fighter devoted fully to the enrichment of his religious transformation.
Less than a week before he faces Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao set aside his main profession to give way to attending Catholic services in the morning and a lengthy Bible preaching in the afternoon.
Pacquiao and wife Jinkee and their four kids went to mass and later heard the teachings of pastor Jeric Soriano in his apartment unit at the Palazzo and the boxer was particularly moved by Soriano’s remarks.
“Whoever controls your mind, controls your life,” said Soriano, son of the late actor Nestor De Villa, putting emphasis on positive thinking.
The bible study – attended by his US-based friends and supporters from the Philippines – was accompanied by lively music and singing.
Pacquiao said the preaching sessions will resume when he and his team arrive in Las Vegas as they take the 300-mile long journey after his last training and final sparring session on Monday at the Wild Card Boxing Club.
Trainer Freddie Roach has asked Pacquiao to report to the gym an hour earlier than usual so they could all be in Sin City before the clock strikes midnight.
Roach is lining up a four-round workout for Pacquiao possibly against Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia and the 52-year-old strategist said this will be par for the course.
Pacquiao will train until Thursday although it will be a light workout since Roach said everything’s been done during the past seven or so weeks starting in the Philippines in early-April.
source: mb.com.ph
