Sa isang private gym pagsasanayin ni American trainer Freddie Roach si Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao para sa kanyang rematch kay Mexican world super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Ito, ayon kay Roach, ay bunga na rin ng malaking bilang ng kanyang mga fighters na nag-eensayo sa Wild Card Boxing Gym sa Hollywood, California na maaaring makasagabal sa preparasyon ng 29-anyos na si Pacquiao.
“We had too many people there weren’t many spectators in the gym, but it’s just too crowded with all the fighters here so tomorrow I have to move him next door. More privacy, you know,” ani Roach kaha-pon.
Kabilang sa mga bigating nakakasabay ni Pacquiao sa Wild Card ay sina Russian world titlists Dimitri Kirilov at Vitaly Klitschko, Mexicans Speedy Gonzales at Juan Carlos Gomez at Filipino Gerry Peñalosa.
Pinaghahandaan ng 35-anyos na si Penalosa ang kanyang unang pag-dedepensa sa suot niyang World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight belt kay Ratanachai Sor Vorapin sa Marso 2 sa Araneta Coliseum.
Sa kabila nito, naging maayos pa rin ang ginagawang pagsasanay ni Pacquiao, ang kasalukuyang World Boxing Council (WBC) International super featherweight champion.
“Pacquiao is training very well,” sabi ni Roach. “He’s on time and we went ten rounds with the mitts today. We’re working on the strategy of the fight, we’re fighting a southpaw.”
Nakatakda ang rematch nina Pacquiao at Marquez, ang WBC super featherweight king, sa Marso 15 sa Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Handa rin si Roach na bigyan ng panahon ang pamosong si light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins sa kabila ng pagiging abala nito kay Pacquiao.
“Somebody wrote that I didn’t want to train Bernard Hopkins because I don’t have time because of Pacquiao. I don’t remember saying that, but I’d love to train Hopkins if things work out,” ani Roach. (RCadayona)