MANNY Pacquiao’s media workout at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles drew a mammoth group that was left breathless by the pound-for-pound king’s tip-top condition.
The media and plain admirers of the Filipino hero were in awe of the Pacquiao show, prompting Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to gush: “Look at the media, look at the people. It’s like a throwback to the days of Muhammad Ali. It is incredible.”
Pacquiao did what he normally does in such events, ripping the mitts of an arm-weary trainer Freddie Roach, going through his regular routine always with a smile on his face that continues to endear him to fight fans and media around the world.
The Filipino battles World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in a title fight aptly billed as “Fire Power” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 14 (Sunday the 15th in Manila) in a fight to be telecast by Solar Sports nationwide on television, with a huge pay-per-view audience in theaters, stadiums, restaurants, bars and similar places.
At the media workout, Pacquiao, as always, didn’t belittle or underestimate his opponent.
Boxing writer Michael Marley quoted Pacquiao as saying: “He [Cotto] is strong. He has a left hook and an uppercut. He is one of the toughest opponents I have ever had. I think he will be coming forward, being aggressive.”
For the very first time, Pacquiao’s estranged parents—Rosalio and Dionisia—will be together at the fight, along with the Pacman’s sister Isidra.
Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee, the mother of his four children—two boys and two girls—will be there as always. Jinkee, who has kept a low profile recently, is scheduled to leave on Nov. 12 on a direct Philippine Airlines flight to Las Vegas.
Pacquiao repeated his usual refrain about his fights without making any predictions. He told Marley: “I want the people, the fans to be satisfied with the fight.”
The Filipino champ was given a standing ovation in an unprecedented appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel late night show on ABC Television, where he won thunderous applause when he sang “Sometimes When We Touch.”
In the show, he spoke about his incredible popularity. “I think it’s because I always give it all and praise God. It is really amazing. This is all from God. I always thank God for giving me the fame, the wealth, everything.”
Trainer Freddie Roach took another of his many swipes at Cotto, saying the Puerto Rican loves to have tattoos and Pacquiao will add a few more on his face. He also stood by his prediction of a knockout either in the first round or the ninth.
Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told Standard Today that fight fans will be surprised to see that Pacquiao will be bigger and stronger than Cotto on fight night, adding that the Filipino boxing icon is in phenomenal shape and there’s no way the welterweight champ can beat him.
