LAS VEGAS—The words were said spontaneously.
Sprawled on the canvas while being given a rub-down massage, Manny Pacquiao suddenly raised his head and told bosom buddy Buboy Fernandez:
“Lakasan mo. Para kang hindi assistant trainer ng world champion. [Make it firmer. You do it as if you’re not the assistant trainer of a world champion].”
Of course, while Pacquiao is a two-time world champion, technically, he isn’t right now.
He needs to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in their March 15 rematch to become the first Filipino—and Asian, in fact—to hold world titles in three divisions.
Pacquiao, in high spirits after ending his preparations for the bout, dubbed “Unfinished Business,” at the IBA Gym here, then changed into a T-shirt and accommodated the GMA Network television crew, photographers, friends and autograph-seekers.
He promised to show the best of Manny Pacquiao on Saturday.
“I’ve trained long and hard, sacrificed not seeing my family to prepare for this fight,” said Pacquiao. “I’m dedicating this to the Filipino people.”
Freddie Roach, who supervised Pacquiao’s training at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, believes he and Pacquiao have done everything to snare the crown from Marquez.
“Manny is in great shape and is ready to prove that he did beat Marquez in their first encounter in 2004,” said Roach.
Marquez recovered from three first round knockdowns in that fight to salvage a draw.
“When Manny hits him this time, he’ll stay down,” said Roach, noting the power Pacquiao now packs in both hands.
Though Pacquiao, his cheek bones very eminent, appears certain to hit 130-lb during weigh-in on Friday, Roach said he’ll still bring the scale Thursday night.
“Just to make sure, ” he said.
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