PACQUIAO COMPLETES FINAL TRAINING PRIOR TO DIAZ FIGHT

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Jun 2008

Las Vegas, NV:- Manny Pacquiao today motored to the IBA Gym along Euclid Street in this scorching Sin City without his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, to complete the final training day before the big night on Saturday. Roach was at the Orleans Hotel with his others wards who were fighting tonight.

Pacquiao’s training was more for a little sweat than a anything else. “Just to keep in shape” was how the veteran Filipino scribes described it. Buboy Fernandez, his long time friend and trainer supervised the short routine. Also on hand to help Fernandez were Eric Brown and Alex Ariza.

And sweat he did! Today was a hot day in Vegas (so what else is new in a desert city) and the IBA Gym owners opened all the doors to try to air the place. They even turned on the central air conditioning. But the temperature was just something else.

Pacquiao did a couple of rounds on the mitts with Fernandez. He also shadow box, hit the speed bag and did the jump rope.

After the short routine, the GMA crew had a short interview with him. Then whole entourage returned to the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino so Pacquiao can have a little rest and have dinner with some select guests.

What was so interesting to note was in spite of his busy schedule, Pacquiao still made the time to talk about the typhoon victims in the Philippines. Addressing some of the Filipino scribes that are gathered around the ring side, this writer included, Pacquaio said:- “Paki sabi na lang sa kanila, lagi silang nasa isip ko at tutulong ako pag balik ko:” (Please tell them they are always in my mind and I will help them when I return).