Pacquiao 80 percent fit for April duel

Manny Pacquiao staged one final workout on home soil yesterday then declared himself 80 percent fit for his April 14 showdown with undefeated Mexican Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas.

Pacquiao arrived at the Wild Card Gym in Parañaque shortly after noon then buckled down to work under the supervision of Pinoy trainer Buboy Fernandez and Canadian adviser Mike Koncz.

After his routine 30-minute warm-up, Pacquiao sparred five rounds against Arnel Tinampay and another three with Edward Escriber as a group of fans watched from outside a glass door.

In less than four weeks, Pacquiao logged a total of 57 rounds of sparring, and with three more weeks of heavy training in Los Angeles will hit as many as a hundred just days before the fight.

After working out, Pacquiao tipped the scales at 137 lbs, took a hot, quick shower before slipping into his barong, dark pants and leather shoes for a meeting with President Arroyo in Malacañang.

Pacquiao will sit down with the President. They are expected to discuss the boxer’s bid for a Congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato in the May 14 elections.

From the Palace, Pacquiao was to go straight to a Quezon City recording studio to finish some songs with his personal composer Lito Camo. Then there’s a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel.

"Ang payat ko na (I look thin already). Tamang-tama (Just perfect)," said Pacquiao inside an air-conditioned office. He flexed his abs, showing off his famous six-pack, before putting on his under-shirt.

"Right now I feel I’m 80 percent. And I still have three weeks. A lot more can be done. I just have to maintain this," added Pacquiao, who left for Los Angeles at 10 last night.

Before leaving the gym, Pacquiao had a brief chat with his former business manager Rod Nazario (who owns the well-kept gym) and mentor Lito Mondejar.

"Kamusta ka? (How are you?) You know I miss you," Pacquiao told Nazario who reminded his former ward of their friendly wager for the May 5 showdown between Oscar dela Hoya and Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao is rooting for dela Hoya – even if he’s with Top Rank.