Pacman off to US to start training

Manny Pacquiao will leave for the United States tonight, carrying with him high hopes of doing well in training for his awaited Nov. 18 showdown with Mexico ‘s Erik Morales in Las Vegas.

"This is it. The real training begins," said the 27-year-old Pacquiao at the Sheraton Hotel where he spent the whole afternoon after flying in from his hometown Gen. Santos City at around noon.

Pacquiao didn’t get to see the fight between Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez as he met with officials from ABS-CBN and Nike for some last-minute transactions before leaving for the US.

"I didn’t see the fight but I heard it wasn’t exciting," said Pacquiao, who just smiled when told that Barrera, after retaining his WBC super-featherweight crown, looked forward to a rematch with the Filipino.

"Is that so? Let’s see," added the left-handed knockout artist.

Pacquiao was scheduled to board a 10 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles where his American trainer Fred Roach will be waiting for him at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Training begins Wednesday or exactly two months before the multi-million-dollar fight with Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. A press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel is scheduled the following day.

Pacquiao brought with him three huge traveling bags and two boxes of his personal effects. He was joined in the flight by business associate Wakee Salud, lawyer Franklin Gacal and trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri.

Pacquiao was in a jolly mood yesterday, and looked ready for the long flight. He was wearing blue jeans, striped shirt, leather shoes, a gold bracelet and his diamond-studded Rolex watch worth at least P3 million.

Pacquiao looked very comfortable with his present weight of around 138 lbs. Though he admitted skipping gym work the past week, he said playing basketball everyday had kept him in shape.

"Do I look thin? I think I do," he said.

"At least three-hours a day I play pick-up basketball with friends. I really enjoy playing basketball then later on having dinner with my friends. At least I’m not bloated and I can say that I’m in shape," he said.

Pacquiao sported a tiny contusion on his right eye which was accidentally poked by an opponent on the court last Saturday.

"Maybe because he couldn’t contain my dribbling skills so he hit me in the eye," he said.