MANILA, Philippines — Declaring that he is nearly in peak form and almost ready to go, Manny Pacquiao said on Friday he will pounce on Antonio Margarito as soon as the bell sounds signaling the start of their scheduled 12-round world super-welterweight title fight on Nov. 13 in Dallas.
“Aatake kami sa first and second rounds,” Pacquiao told scribes on Friday after a workout done under the pouring morning rain at the Rizal Memorial track oval.
A day after capping his high-altitude training camp in Baguio City on full throttle, Pacquiao ranked his conditioning from a scale of 1 to 10 at “nine and a half,” something the 31-year-old pound-for-pound king hopes would calm the nerves of his concerned followers.
“Ready na tayo,” said Pacquiao, who, despite missing several roadworks and a couple of afternoon training sessions, affirmed he is right on track in reaching the desired level of conditioning by the time he answers the bell at Cowboys Stadium.
Before leaving Baguio Thursday afternoon, Pacquiao sparred 11 rounds with Amir Khan, Glen Tapia and Michael Medina that left a smile on the face of chief trainer Freddie Roach, who has been a tad worried on the progress of his prized puncher’s buildup.
Training assistant Buboy Fernandez also echoed his boss’ assessment.
“Nasa 90 percent na kami ngayon,” said Fernandez, who shares the training chores with Nonoy Neri under the strict supervision of Roach and conditioning coach and taskmaster Alex Ariza.
Drenched in a mix of perspiration and rain, Ariza presided over the wet workout, issuing orders like a general in the beaches of Normandy and making his presence truly felt when he ordered Pacquiao back to the tracks when the rains began to fall.
Pacquiao hesitated for a moment but gave in and finished all the drills that had been laid out as rains pelted the ground and onlookers and mediamen began scampering for cover.
Pacquiao will train in Metro Manila until Saturday afternoon and will board a Philippine Airlines flight for Los Angeles in the evening to kick off the final phase of his training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Roach said a couple of sparmates are eagerly awaiting Pacquiao’s arrival so they could test the mettle of the world’s No. 1 fighter.
Source: mb.com.ph
