Pacquiao's road to redemption: Relentless preparations

MANILA, Philippines – On November 24, one of this generation’s best boxers returns to the ring after a one year hiatus. He will face off with a young, hungry fighter who is trying to make his mark in the sport of boxing.

When Manny Pacquiao puts on his gloves once again against 27-year-old up and coming boxer Brandon Rios in Macau, the whole world will be watching.

Pacquiao, who has been named Fighter of the Decade, is coming off two consecutive losses. The fight is a must-win for the 8-division world champion, who is trying to prove he is still on top of his game.

One is fighting for redemption, while the other knows a win will catapult him to instant stardom. This is Rappler’s coverage of the lead-up to one of the year’s biggest fights, the second of a three-part mini-series that will chronicle Pacquiao’s journey to one of the most important bouts of his life. (WATCH PART ONE: Pacquiao’s road to redemption: The comeback)

Editor’s Note: Narration said “former” eight-division world champion. We regret the error.

GERRY PEÑALOSA, FORMER BOXER/ADVISOR: Nakikita ko talagang grabe. Parang yung Manny Pacquiao na nakikita ko noon parang nagbalik.
(I’m really seeing something else. It’s like the old Manny Pacquiao is back.)

PEÑALOSA: Nakikita ko sa kanya ngayon talagang, matagal ko na yun di nakita, I think for the last three years. Talagang pinupush niya sarili niya. Hindi mo na dapat siya sabihan na kailangan niyang gawin. Siya na mismo ang gumagawa or dinadagdagan pa niya mga ensayo niya.
(I see in him something I haven’t seen in a while, I think for the last three years. He’s really pushing himself. You don’t need to tell him what he needs to do. He himself does it and even pushes it further.)

It’s 6am in the morning in General Santos City home of 8-division Filipino world champion Manny Pacquiao.
The boxer and his entourage rises with the sun, and meets it with a run.
Some days it’s on a track.
Other days, its on the highway, an uphill dash in the unforgiving heat.
Afterwards, some conditioning.
Then it’s back to the Wild Card Gym for a full work out.
Drills. Jump rope. Speedball. Footwork.
On some days, some sparring.
Then his recreational basketball at night.
He does it all over again the next day, all in preparation for his November 24 showdown…
against American boxer Brandon Rios.
His camp is more than happy.

FREDDIE ROACH, HEAD TRAINER: He’s at 100%. He’s in very good shape and we’re getting better and better as the weeks go on here in General Santos, and then the last 5 days we’ll go to Macau.

LIAM VAUGHAN, SPARRING PARTNER: He’s so fast. He’s hard to catch, you know. He’s fast.

These days, it’s all work for Pacquiao’s camp.
They studied the opponent, and they have a game plan.

BUBUY FERNANDEZ, ASSISTANT TRAINER: More na finofocusan natin ngayon yung depensa. Yung depensa at tsaka yung atake natin na gagawin. Kasi sometimes pag sobrang excited mo, nakakalimutan mo na dumepensa. Hindi mo ineexpect na tatamaan ka pala pag sumuntok yung kalaban na to.
So, more focus tayo sa depensa tsaka sa footwork kasi kailangan natin yung paa kasi pag wala tayong paa, hindi natin kasi alam kung ano yung ilalabas ni Rios sa laban eh.
So, yun lagi yung pinaghahandaan namin na kung sakaling aatake to, sasabay tayo pero hindi matagalan, kailangan nating gumalaw kagad.
Kung sakali man tumakbo si Brandon Rios, iba yung gameplan niya, siyempre meron rin tayong gameplan na gagawin na style na etong Brandon Rios hindi makatakbo.
(We’re focusing more on defense. Defense and the attack we will do. Because sometimes when you’re too excited, you forget to defend yourself. You don’t expect to get hit by your opponent. So we will focus more on defense and footwork because we need fast feet, since we don’t know what Rios will come with in the fight. So that’s what we’re getting ready for. In the event he attacks, we will match him but not for an extended amount of time. We need to move back right away. In the event Brandon Rios will run away, our game plan is different. Of course we have a different game plan and style so Brandon Rios won’t be able to run away.)

Team Pacquiao too, is a lot more serious.
There’s less fooling around.
Pacquiao’s newfound Christian faith has turned the boys into men.

MANNY PACQUIAO, WORLD CHAMPION BOXER: Pinaka malaking pagbabago? Yung ano, pagsunod sa kautusan ng Panginoon, reading the Bible, knowing our manual which is the Bible which is our manual to life.
(My biggest change? My decision to follow the word of God.)

It’s a transformation panned by critics but one that the formerly womanizing and gambling Pacquiao has embraced.
Bible verses plaster the walls of his gym and his home.
His camp thinks the change is for the better.

FERNANDEZ: Kaya mas more pa na naging happy ako sa nangyari ngayon kaysa noon kasi noon sabihin natin, yung pag-inom nandyan yan pero ngayon kahit na isang bagay na nakikita ko sa kanya noon, never mo na makikita ngayon tsaka yung ugali niya, wala na yung pagmumura sa taas ng ring, wala na yung pagbibiro na nakakasakit sa mga kapwa, sa mga kaibigan. Kumbaga more pa na seryoso at tsaka more pa na yung team nagkaroon ng unity na kumbaga ayaw makapagbitaw ng salita na nakakasakit sa mga nakakarinig.
(I became even happier with what happened because before, his drinking was there and now, I no longer see any of his past vices. Now he behaves differently, the cussing in the ring is gone, even the jokes that could hurt people, his friends, are all gone. In fact he’s more serious in training now and the team is more united. No one wants to speak badly of anyone anymore.)

But the most palpable change in his camp? The sense of urgency.
Coming off two consecutive losses the threat of oblivion hangs over the them.
Team Pacquaio wants to win and wants it bad.

ROACH: Well I don’t like this person we’re fighting pretty much so it’s a little personal. He was very distasteful making fun of my Parkinson’s on National TV and Manny said to me, did that guy really make fun of you? And I said ‘Yes Manny.’ And he just looked at me and that was it. He knows exactly what I want.
I can’t wait for this fight and I particularly don’t like the opponent too much and Manny will be doing me a big favor by knocking this guy out.

PACQUIAO: Napaka importante ‘tong fight na ito dahil napakatagal naming hindi lumaban almost one year this coming December. So na-miss ng mga tao yung Manny Pacquiao at kailangan ko pang i-prove na kaya ko pang lumaban. Makikita mo yung iba natalo lahat ng Pilipino recently kaya kailangan ako, kailangan makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa natin.
(The fight is very important because I was gone from the ring for so long, almost one year this coming December. So the people missed Manny Pacquiao and I need to prove that I can still fight. Plus the other Filipino fighters lost recently so I’m needed to bring honor to the country.)

Script and narration by Natashya Gutierrez
Video by Adrian Portugal
Editing by Vicente Roxas

– Rappler.com

Pacquiao’s road to redemption: Relentless preparations

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