Las Vegas, Nevada -- The hard-hitting and aggressive
version of Manny Pacquiao that the boxing world has come to know and
love will be making a comeback this Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) against
Juan Manuel Marquez.
This was the consensus among the people who
watched him train for the last time at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles,
before his fourth fight against Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
in Las Vegas.
After just four rounds of sparring, Pacquiao
completed his traditional training circuit before packing and heading
for Las Vegas. Following his workout, the Sarangani congressman
exchanged pleasantries with an American congresswoman from Hawaii before
answering questions from the press.
"I pray for my safety and I
also pray for Marquez," Pacquiao said. "I pray for everyone who will
fight in the undercard because I believe that boxing is not about
hurting each other."
Pacquiao and a handful of Team Pacquiao
members then made their way to Nat's Thai Food to have lunch, before
heading out to Las Vegas. The caravan of more than 20 vehicles,
including a bus bearing Pacquiao's image, left the Wild Card Gym a
little past four in the afternoon for the drive to Las Vegas, with
Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee leading the way in his Lincoln Navigator.
The group arrived a little past eight in the evening and went straight
to Pacquiao's suite at the hotel, where the boxer, his family, and his
entourage had dinner served.
The meal, good for about 100 people,
was composed of some of the fighter's favorite food. Mike Koncz,
Pacquiao's advisor, had the hotel prepare adobong manok, nilagang baka,
bistek tagalog, chopsuey, sweet and sour fish, pancit, and steamed rice.
The food was mostly gone 30 minutes after it was served, as throngs of
family members and supporters arrived in waves to be with Pacquiao.
The
eight-division world champion was in a light mood after he arrived. He
started singing lines from the song "This is the Moment," perhaps
signifying how the time he has been preparing for for all these months
is finally near. Pacquiao also helped Koncz distribute the room keys for
all his guests.
Asked why he was extra intense during his sparring for this fight, Pacquiao sheepishly said "I was only making examples," before letting out a quick laugh. The way he answered might lead some to think that he is taking things lightly, but hidden behind the boyish playfulness is a stern warning to his opponent. - AMD/OMG, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
