HOLLYWOOD—Has Manny Pacquiao turned back the hands of time?
Maybe not, but he’s frozen it at least.
At the start of his training camp here last month, former boxers and joggers were able to keep pace with Pacquiao in his early morning runs at Pan Pacific Park.
Lately, however, when they join Pacquiao as he alternately climbs Griffith Park, they can no longer sustain his blistering pace and lag behind.
Former world champion Rodel Mayol swears nobody in the pool of accompanying runners, including himself and the Kayote Boyz, a group of active and former Filipino boxers living in California, could match Pacquiao’s speed and stamina.
“He’s too fast,” said Mayol, the former World Boxing Council light flyweight titlist who regularly joins Pacquiao in his 10-kilometer trek through winding terrain. “He’s also too strong, never stopping as he used to do in the past.
“Overall, I think he’s about 90 percent already,” said Mayol. “As far as running and stamina are concerned, I’ll give him 100 or even 110 percent.”
According to Mayol, who retired in 2010 following a knockout loss to Juan Carlos Sanchez, Pacquiao’s current form is comparable with his condition when he demolished Oscar De La Hoya and Antonio Margarito.
Mayol, who now provides for his wife (Lira) and children Bryce and Ryan by working as front end assistant in a pharmacy chain, said he was able to sneak into one of Pacquiao’s sparring sessions and saw how his punches rock his spar mates.
“If Pacquiao catches him (Mayweather), may paglalagyan siya,” said the 33-year-old Mayol, whose record stands at 31 wins (22 KOs), 5 losses and 2 draws when he quit at 29.
For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.