Manny ends LA camp, motors to Vegas

LOS ANGELES — A heavy workout at the Wild Card Gym and a sing-along party at a nearby Thai restaurant highlighted Manny Pacquiao’s last day of training here in this cold City of Angels.

Pacquiao and his entourage of around 30 persons will travel four hours and 300 miles Sunday (Monday in Manila) to Las Vegas, the site of the highly-awaited fight against Mexico’s Erik Morales.

The 27-year-old Filipino boxer will hear morning mass at Christ the King Church in Hollywood area before taking off for Vegas where the weather has dipped to under 10 degrees over the last couple of days.

Pacquiao has been in LA for almost two months now and has practically spent each day running like wild in the morning and working it out at the Hollywood gym owned by his trainer Freddie Roach.

Saturday’s workout at the expanded gym also served as Pacquiao’s last day of sparring against taller and heavier Mexican fighters David Rodela and Jorge Padilla.

Before dozens of fans, Pacquiao had three rounds with Padilla and two with Rodela. Heavy punches were thrown both ways with Pacquiao, at times, allowing himself to get beat.

"You’re taking too much Manny," someone from among the crowd shouted as Pacquiao was pinned by Padilla on the ropes, and took heavy punches to the body.

But Pacquiao simply laughed it off as he headed back to his corner.

In the third round, he poured it out against Padilla, unleashing several flurries that often hit their mark and sent the 5-foot-9 Mexican reeling until trainer Buboy Fernandez called "time."

The crowd clapped with approval as the session ended.

Overall, Pacquiao had around 150 rounds of sparring, probably the most he’s had in recent fights. He will no longer spar in the final week heading to the match and will simply go through the motions.

"We really doubled our efforts in training for this fight. That’s why I feel so fine. This is the hardest training I’ve ever had. I’m ready. So, Let’s get it on," said Pacquiao.

The 27-year-old boxer took a while before emerging from the dressing room, and leaving the gym, but needed two hours to get out of the Nat’s Thai Food, his favorite place for lunch.

After filling himself with grilled pink salmon, vegetable and rice with friends and team members, Pacquiao turned on the music. He played the guitar and sang his favorite tunes with his composer Lito Camo.

There was no stopping Pacquiao who simply had a very good time. He looked so relax performing at the small restaurant that was later packed by Filipino fans based here in LA.

Pacquiao left the restaurant shortly after 4 p.m., boarding his two-seater, top-down Mercedes SL 550 with Demi Dizon, a very close friend from Manila.

Pacquiao was smiling as he drove off. Cool and confident.