Pacquiao to fly early to LA for training

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to leave the country earlier than planned as he flies from Manila to Los Angeles, California on Saturday, February 28 to train with longtime coach Freddie Roach at Wild Card Gym.

Roach, who won his seventh Boxing Writers Association of America “Trainer of the Year” award this year, disclosed that the renowned Filipino southpaw will start his intense training on March 2 for his long-awaited bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in PH) at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Manny called me and said it’s been so crazy in the Philippines that he is going to come over here early and probably start at Wild Card on March 2,” he said in an interview with ESPN’s Dan Rafael.

Pacquiao is still scheduled to compete in today’s Philippine Basketball Association game for his KIA Carnival squad, who face the Blackwater Elite at San Juan Arena.

The 54-year-old trainer also affirmed that Justin Fortune will be overseeing Pacquiao’s strength-and-conditioning program once again.

“Having him early is really nice for me. We’ll have Justin Fortune doing strength work with him, and then we’ll begin the boxing part and start sparring,” Roach stated.

Roach is expected to be absent in the first few days of Pacquiao’s training camp as he is going to work in the corner of Zou Shiming, who faces Amnat Ruenroeng for the IBF flyweight championship in Macau, China on March 7.

Although he offered to stay at Wild Card Gym for his fighter’s arrival and let Marvin Somodio handle Zou’s first title bid, Roach revealed that Pacquiao told him to finish his work with the Chinese superstar.

Roach stressed that Somodio will travel from Macau to Los Angeles to supervise Pacquiao in the first several days.

According to Roach, he has lined up Kenneth Sims Jr. and Rashidi Ellis as sparring partners for Pacquiao.

New Gameplan 

Roach says that both Mayweather, 38, and Pacquiao, 36, have changed as fighters as they’ve aged, and has had to alter the plan of attack he would use against him.

“I’m very happy, and I’m very confident we will win the fight,” Roach said. “I have a good game plan for Manny, and I’ve altered the game plan some over the last five to six years since this fight has been something everyone wanted to see. I’ve made adjustments to it since both guys are a little older. I’m watching tape on their last two fights each.

“They’re not the same as they were five years ago, but it’s a winnable fight for us if we fight the right fight. This is the biggest fight of my life. There’s a lot of pressure, but I’m not going to be nervous. Pressure is good. I want to perform, and I want my fighter to do the best he can.”

Roach admits that Mayweather (47-0, 26 knockouts) is favored to win for a reason, but says both himself and Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) have already been discussing strategy.

We just need to have the right strategy to beat this solid fighter,” Roach said. “Mayweather is a slick guy, and he is not the easiest guy in the world to fight. He’s undefeated for a reason. He’s very smart. The thing is we have to attack him a lot and have that ring generalship, and Manny has to work on cutting off the ring. Everything will come together. Manny and me have already been talking about the strategy. Once he gets here, he knows what I want from him.” 

Pacquiao has already been training with assistant trainer and close friend Buboy Fernandez in General Santos City and Manila.

On the other hand, Mayweather is yet to begin his preparation for his super-fight versus Pacquiao and recently hosted an extravagant party to celebrate his birthday. – Rappler.com