Pacquiao winds up camp, off to US Saturday

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao will conclude his training in General Santos and fly to the United States Saturday for the second phase of his preparations for a grudge rematch with Timothy Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas.

Maximizing his time, Pacquiao plans to train in the afternoon and spar with Lydell Rhodes at Pacman Wild Card Gym.

Afterwards, Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach and the rest of his team will board Gov. Chavit Singson’s private plane for Manila, where they will take the night flight to Los Angeles.

Also with the group are assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, adviser Michael Koncz, strength and conditioning trainer Cecilio Flores and Roger Fernandez.

According to Inquirer Mindanao, Flores, a nutritionist, has put Pacquiao on an all-organic diet to enhance his strength and stamina.

Bradley, who wrested the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown from Pacquiao via a widely disputed split decision in 2012, is on vegetarian diet while training.

He revealed to ABS-CBN North America his queer ritual of not taking a bath on fight week.

Thus far, Roach puts Pacquiao’s level of conditioning at 80 percent, which he said is just right for the tougher training ahead.

Lined up to spar with Pacquiao are former world champions Kendall Holt and Steve Forbes and young prospect Julian Rodriguez.

RELATED STORIES

Pacquiao starts natural diet ahead of Bradley bout

Pacquiao focused on fight, not on Senate seat–adviser