The “Fighter of the Decade” will be toiling for two weeks at coach Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym then spend a final week of training in Texas, where the November 13 fight will take place.
“He knows that when we get to LA, it's gonna be a different ball game. There are no excuses there are no outside distractions no appointments,” said Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
“We're three weeks away, we still have a lot of time,” he added.
In LA, Pacquiao plans to perfect the optimum speed he’ll need to offset Margarito’s height and reach advantage.
He was accompanied to the airport by his family, namely his wife Jinkee and youngest child, Princess. His brother Bobby was also there to wish him luck.
“Gagawin namin lahat para manalo,” said Pacquiao, who also serves as Sarangani congressman. “Training everyday pa rin sa LA.” (We'll do everything to win... training everyday in LA).
Lower level at sparring
Before heading to the airport that evening, the Filipino boxer has spent the day sparring with his training partners.
He, however, looked like he was taking it easy when sparring with training partners Micheal Medina and Amir Khan.
“Hindi maganda ang galaw ko today pero hindi naman tayo pagod, pakiramdam ko nanibago lang ang katawan ko sa init ng panahon (I didn’t move too well today but we’re not really tired. I think it’s just because of the weather),” said Pacquiao.
Ariza, meanwhile, defended the Filipino, saying that he can’t be 100% all the time.
His conditioning coach also pointed out that Pacquiao’s sparring partners are quality fighters, too.
“Everybody expects his pay-per-view performances when he's sparring, you're gonna see that when he's fighting guys his size and at his weight,” explained Ariza.
“First of all he's fighting Medina, who’s 6'1" and a very strong guy. And then he's fighting probably the next best pound-for-pound fighter in the world Amir Khan, probably if not, is the fastest boxer and speed wise and now is becoming a power puncher himself,” he said.
Bringing Pacquiao to LA
Roach is a bit relieved about taking his fighter back to LA, where they will keep Pacquiao away from everything not related to boxing.
“We'll keep him a little more active and a little more focused,” said the esteemed boxing trainer.
To do that, Roach said he will close down his gym every time Pacquiao trains to keep the outsiders away.
“I'm closing the gym down from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said.
Roach was having frustrations about his fighter’s busy schedule outside boxing.
The boxing trainer said he was used to Pacquiao’s distractions in the past but said: “this is going a little bit overboard, though.”
When asked about Pacquiao’s biggest distraction, Roach replied: “Basically his job [as congressman].”
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