HALL of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who handled eight-division champion and senator Manny Pacquiao’s training at the classy Flash Elorde Gym in the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City, said the Filipino ring icon is in great shape, looking good.
So good in fact, that Roach expects Pacquiao to have more fights after his showdown with WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 6.
“I’m looking forward to this fight and many more to come after that,” said Roach of his prized boxer.
Pacquiao, who has trained relentlessly under Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune has, at times, looked tired and flat because of his long hours and diligent work in the Philippine Senate but still shows up at the gym in the evenings to train.
He has been sparring three times a week with unbeaten welterweight Jose Ramirez, who stands 5’10” and fights very much like Vargas, who is also 5’10.”
Longtime adviser and confidant Michael Koncz summed up Pacquiao’s preparation in Manila. “There were a lot of new challenges. However, I am very happy and pleased with Manny’s training.”
There were times that both Roach and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune conceded that Pacquiao, because of his long hours in the Senate, “looked tired and flat” during sparring but at other times he was “devastating.”
“It was a pretty tough schedule in this camp but he held up really well. The sparring days were really good and it’s the best I’ve seen Manny in a long time—he is a lot more aggressive than I have seen him in the past and there was a lot of the old Manny Pacquiao coming out and he really, really looked good. We trained right up until Saturday morning before our flight out to Los Angeles and he boxed 10 rounds and he looked great and he’s in great shape, I know it has been a very difficult camp with the Senate and so forth. Manny has always been a busy person, but because of the Senate, he seems to be a lot more serious than anything else he has done. He is in Senate sessions on some nights until 7:30 or 8:00 at night and when he is done, we go right to the gym,” said Roach.
Pacquiao conceded that the setup is hard.
“I can say that working in the Senate is not easy, especially, along with training. You need to manage your time and that’s what I did in training for this fight, while I am working in the office. I don’t have time really for any other activities—all of my time is with working and training,” said Pacquiao.
Questioned as to what was the most difficult part trying to do both jobs, Pacquiao responded:”The most difficult part is trying to control my time and to manage and discipline myself. The most difficult part of training in the past has always been when I do a bad job of managing my time. This time, I managed my time and disciplined myself from going to my work to my training and that’s what I did in the Philippines. I don’t have any time to spend with my friends—just time for hard work.”
One journalist pointed out that in looking at Vargas’ opponents, he doesn’t see a “Murderers’ Row.”
“Is it difficult to take this fight seriously?,” the reporter asked.
“Vargas is a world champion, so in no way can I underestimate him. You can never underestimate a boxer who is a champion. He is good. I just have to make sure that I am 100 percent ready for the fight,” said Pacquiao.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum clarified that there was “No murderers row of opponents, but when Pacquiao fought Tim Bradley, he had Bradley out on his feet and because the referee got mixed up, he stopped the fight 10 seconds too soon so who knows how that would have ended? And he (Vargas) fought Sadam Ali to win the title and Sadam Ali is a terrific fighter —he was a member of the US Olympic Team, he was undefeated and certainly not a tomato can and he entered the fight a big favorite over Vargas and Vargas dominated him and eventually knocked him out. I think that victory alone qualifies Vargas for top level of fighters and opponents for Manny,” said Vargas.
Asked about what his plans are for Pacquiao after the Vargas showdown, Arum replied: “Let’s take it one at a time. If Manny comes in and dominates this fight and looks like the old Manny, and wants to continue fighting, there will be certain opponents that will be considered. If he decides that it’s too much juggling two careers then he shouldn’t continue. If he is determined to continue and his performance suffers because of his work in the Senate, I would have to look in the direction of somebody else for an opponent. So to jump now about names and so forth, who knows? Manny may look so good in this fight and may have such senatorial presence in the fight that we may be looking for (middleweight champ Gennady) Golovkin next. And if he doesn’t vote right in the senate, I think some of his constituents may be urging him to fight Golovkin,” which drew a quick response from Manny.
“Bob, I hope you are joking about Golovkin!” Pacquiao reacted.
But a more likely opponent should he beat Vargas handily would be Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Justin Fortune told Manila Standard he is confident the Filipino can outbox and overcome Alvarez.
But before anything else, he has to beat Vargas on Nov. 6.