Pacquiao kicks off Wild Card training for Marquez on October 15

Manny Pacquiao won’t be showing up for training at the Wild Card in Hollywood until October 15, giving the Filipino star about seven weeks to rev up for his fourth match with Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on December 8.

Pacquiao usually trains eight weeks for a big fight but even if he won’t be under the watchful eyes of Freddie Roach until the second week, Pacquiao is not taking Marquez for granted.

The last few days, Pacquiao has been spotted doing his morning roadwork in General Santos City and sweating it out at the gym owned by boxing patron Rey Golingan in the afternoon.

Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser, said they made a promise to Roach during the promotional tour weeks ago that Pacquiao will begin the first day of the grind on October 15.

With Pacquiao in the US for nearly two months, there will be instances when he will shoot a commercial for an American-owned company, Koncz said, stressing that he’ll make sure it won’t affect the boxer’s training.

Pacquiao, who turns 34 on December 17, is a 4-1 favorite over Marquez although most ringsiders are of the opinion that it’s a pick ‘em kind of matchup.

Marquez, 39, is already in the thick of training in Mexico City.

source: interaksyon.com

Pacquiao Hopeful vs Floyd

MANILA, Philippines — There is a possibility that Manny Pacquiao will bypass a Nov. 10 ring return in the event a megabuck match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. can be made for early 2013.

“That’s possible,” said Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal.

Mayweather is set to be released from a Las Vegas prison anytime Friday after being convicted for domestic battery and the fact that the unbeaten US boxer has also formed an alliance with rapper-millionaire 50 Cent in the creation of TMT (The Money Team) Promotions is a sign that something’s going on.

Pacquiao has actually declined to say who it is going to be among the leading candidates – Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez – telling a handful of scribes recently that he hasn’t made up his mind yet.

Promoter Bob Arum is arriving in Manila next week to discuss what’s on the horizon for Pacquiao.

Gacal said that if a Mayweather fight can be made for early next year, Pacquiao might decide not to proceed with a planned return in November to avoid any complications.

Mayweather’s decision to hook up with 50 Cent and form a new promotional outfit is seen as a positive sign towards making a fight with Pacquiao a reality.

One thing that also points to that is the mediation meeting set for Monday in Los Angeles involving the lawyers of Pacquiao and Mayweather. Pacquiao had filed a defamation suit against Mayweather owing to charges made by Mayweather that the Filipino uses performance-enhancing drugs.

But Arum believes the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight won’t happen until April or May 2013 and that it is very likely that Pacquiao will face Bradley, Marquez or even Miguel Cotto.

“I don’t think so,” said Arum when told about the prospects of Pacquiao foregoing a November fight and just wait for next year to resurface.

Arum said he has already talked with the camps of Bradley, Marquez and Cotto and that he expects to have something concrete before he heads back to the US from Manila.

Still, Arum acknowledged that the formation of TMT Promotions and the mediation are “positive” signs that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight can be made.

source: mb.com.ph

For Pacquiao, Sunday A Moment To Reflect

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