MANILA, Philippines -- Here's heartwarming info for countless avid fans who die to hear great news about Manny Pacquiao.

Manny has been eating heartily every day, with no worries whatsoever.

That comes straight from the well-stocked Pacquiao kitchen at his classy apartment in California.

That also confirms how strong and hefty Pacquiao feels at this stage in training for his next big fight.

Now, to the same fans who would react and claw at hints about something wrong with their idol, here's the latest bulletin on Pacquiao's weight.

"Manny still overweight at 138 and a half, kain pa rin nang kain."

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That advice registered via text messaging from Pacquiao's place at the Palazzo residences, sent by one honest, nosy Team Pacquiao insider.

It's obvious our informant, who forwarded the info Sunday, did it with great reluctance.

But, at the same time, the fellow must've felt bringing the Pacquiao poundage problem in the open could help serve as timely warning for the national boxing idol to seriously attend to his weight.

"Delicado siya kay Marquez (He'll be in great danger against Marquez.)" our informant added in the same text message.

Needless to say, WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, who Pacquiao meets in a rematch on March 15, has had his poundage in check well ahead of schedule.

The Mexican world 130-pound ruler checked in at 133 last week, the same time Pacquiao registered 139 lb.

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That's it. There's no news on how much Marquez weighed Sunday but it's safe to guess he must be coasting, careful not to hit peak form ahead.

Of course, we all have to trust what trainer Freddie Roach has repeatedly claimed: that everything looks great in Pacquiao's current regimen.

There's a strong likelihood Pacquiao may have to cram, cut down on food intake drastically, as the weigh-in nears.

But that seems to be the least of Mr. Roach's worries.

What the famous trainer wanted everybody to know is this: Pacquiao is raring to score a knockout come March 15 in Las Vegas.

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The way Roach sounds, Pacquiao is red-hot, fully armed.

Roach wants everybody to know that Pacquiao can mangle and devastate Marquez if the bout takes place tomorrow.

Well, maybe Roach sees no problem about Pacquiao trampling Marquez promptly.

But, hey, this could be done only if Pacquiao would no longer be required to wage an even grimmer battle against the weighing scales.

With all the unwanted poundage, whams of indiscretion ganging up on his physique, Pacquiao now appears headed for his biggest test.

Going down to the 130-lb limit promises to be a killing task.

It could also make or break the Pacman.

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So the inimitable Bob Arum foresees record profits both for Pacquiao and his promotional outfit, with the March 15 bout being touted as top candidate for Fight of the Year.

Meanwhile, it might help if Arum also returns to his diary to check on the days leading to the second fight of Pacquiao against Erik Morales.

Given the lessons of that Morales defeat, they should be able to come up with timely corrections in Pacquiao's regimen.

At least they are not yet at that point when Arum, cramming with Morales, had had to inflict Velocity, a flamboyant but untried weight-reducing system that ultimately led to the third-round demolition of the Mexican ring great in his third meeting with Pacquiao in 2006.

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Yes, Arum could be of help only if he is able to warn Pacquiao that he must have reached a point when his body has started to betray him.

Arum had seen a good number of fighters, the last of them being Morales, agonize through the unforgiving grinder.

Sorry, the latest news shows that Pacquiao, great as he is, is no exception.

The developments definitely did not sound good to countless Pacquiao admirers.

But, with a humbler plot, they should be able to save Pacquiao from unscheduled destruction.