Pacquiao in LA for final grind

MANILA, Philippines - The old familiar faces were around when Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport yesterday morning (Saturday evening in the US) for his April 12 clash with Timothy Bradley.

Die-hard friends and supporters as well as members of the media welcomed Pacquiao at the LAX following a 12-hour flight from Manila.

The 35-year-old Pacquiao, clad in jeans, blue jeans and black leather jacket, wore his famous smile upon his arrival.

But the one who stood out among the welcome party was Justine Fortune, who served as Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach for a number of years until he parted ways with the Fiipino camp in 2007.

Yes, the former heavyweight contender from Australia, who once faced Lennox Lewis inside the ring, is back with Team Pacquiao.

Photos of Pacquiao’s arrival, posted at www. philboxing.com, showed Pacquiao and Fortune warmly greeting each other.

Pacquiao has four weeks left to train for the Bradley fight, and things heat up starting Monday at new south wing of the Wild Card Gym on Vine St. in Hollywood.

Fortune will be in charge of Pacquiao’s conditioning and will be assisted by Cecilio Flores, also a strength coach now in charge of the boxer’s organic diet.

Flying in with Pacquiao were his chief trainer Freddie Roach, sparring partner Lydell Rhodes, assistants Buboy Fernandez and Roger Fernandez, and adviser Mike Koncz.

Before boarding the flight to LA, Roach aired his satisfaction with the way Pacquiao spent the last three or four weeks training in General Santos City.

He said Bradley will be in for a big surprise.

“We had a great camp in the Philippines and Manny, as usual, is way ahead of schedule in his conditioning , and very motivated,” Roach said.

“The real business begins for us on Monday at Wild Card. We have great sparring waiting for Manny. He wants that title back.”

Pacquiao is out to avenge a bitter loss to Bradley almost two years ago. At the same time, he wants to regain the WBO weltwerweight crown, and his old reputation as one of the fiercest fighters out there.

Bradley has repeatedly said Pacquiao has lost the killer instinct, saying that’s the first thing he noticed when the eight-division world champion fought and defeated Brandon Rios in Macau last November.

Pacquiao has not scored a knockout since 2009. Roach said Bradley is making a big mistake. “If Bradley thinks he’s going to see the same

compassionate Manny he saw the first time they fought he is in for a very big surprise,” said Roach.