Source philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - Without most people knowing, Manny Pacquiao has started gearing up for his clash with Juan Manuel Marquez in November.
The reigning WBO welterweight champion showed up unannounced at the Rizal Memorial Stadium the other day for some roadwork exercises.
Members of the Philippine amateur boxing team, who were there for their morning workout, were just surprised to see Pacquiao around.
The fighting congressman from Sarangani came with just a couple of bodyguards, and did exercises on his own, with no trainer on hand.
Roel Velasco, bronze medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and now part of the coaching staff, said Pacquiao ran a couple of rounds.
“He did not stay long but he was there doing some exercises. He came up to us and asked us how we were doing,” said Velasco.
“He asked us how he can help the team, and said he was considering putting our amateur boxers in his television game show,” he added.
Pacquiao will take on Marquez on Nov. 12 in Las Vegas. It will be the third clash between the two warriors following two controversial contests.
Pacquiao said he will leave no stone unturned to make sure he wins convincingly this time after a draw in 2004 and a close win in 2008.
His chief trainer, Freddie Roach, said they will go for a knockout, and silence Marquez for good.
The 37-year-old Mexican, up to this day, has maintained that he won both contests, despite being knocked down four times.
Pacquiao wants no less than a convincing win, and this is the reason why he’s already out flexing his muscles, less than three months to the fight.
“He said he would start training by the second week of August although serious training starts the second week of September,” said the boxer’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal.
“Manny said he wants to make sure he wins convincingly this time. Manny said, ‘Ayoko mapahiya dito (I don’t want to lose face here),’” he added.
