SOME ten days after claiming he had already peaked, unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. was back in the gym, working very hard.
He had initially stated he would spend the remainder of the training period just to be sharper and smarter.
He was trying to explain he would be needing no extra power in order to rule his May 2 megabout against Manny Pacquiao.
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Latest reports and photos from the Mayweather camp in Las Vegas tell of a different story.
The unbeaten world welterweight ruler was visibly loading up, working to be stronger.
He was pushing hard to put power behind his punches.
His trainer-father, Floyd Sr., would also explain his son was wholly obsessed with beating Pacquiao.
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Out there around Hollywood, Pacquiao was the usual fiend for hard work. He loved to do excess rounds in sparring, and run additional lengths around Griffith Park.
Then trainer Freddie Roach made a surprise move to Pacquiao’s disappointment.
Roach canceled a sparring session, claiming it could push Pacquiao to perfect form ahead of schedule. Roach was not about to risk a burnout.
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Meanwhile, Pacquiao conditioning coach Justine Fortune claimed the eight-division world boxing title winner has succeeded in acquiring everything he would be needing to upset Mayweather.
Fortune took time out to mention the progress Pacquiao has achieved in the area of defense, where the Filipino superstar was inferior to Mayweather.
Fortune specified how Pacquiao is now quite capable of moving and protecting his head properly.
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Many experts and former ring greats were divided on their preference.
But one thing has started to become clear: Both Pacquiao and Mayweather could enter the ring on May 2 in their finest form ever.
Both warriors have visibly been working to surpass themselves.
No, it could not be a case of Pacquiao, the slasher, outboxing Mayweather, the magical defender.
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Pacquiao would go all out to blast and run over his rival, with more maturity and caution, of course.
But would it be a surprise if Mayweather refuses to just slide and counter, and this time dig in and try to take Pacquiao out?
One man who was the least surprised about the developments in the rival camps of the megabout warriors was the legend Sugar Ray Leonard.
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Leonard likened the intensity, the animosity to that of his great bout against Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
That great fight, given to Leonard via split decision, ended up with no clear conclusion.
Leonard, however, sounded sure there would be a compelling end to the May 2 megabout at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
This is one is about legacy, authenticity, the best one ever, Leonard assured.