Manny Pacquiao during his morning training at the Pan Pacific Regional Park in Holywood, California. Rem Zamora/INQUIRER
HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao may be battling bigger foes in the welterweight division but at least, he doesn’t have to worry about his weight.
“There’s no problem with my weight since my natural fighting weight is 140 pounds,” Pacquiao said in Filipino after awarding the winners of his weight-loss challenge on Sunday at Florentine Gardens Hollywood.
“I can even make it to 135. I’m not worried. I’m worried about how much more I need to eat.”
READ: Former boxer, caregiver win Pacquiao weight-loss challenge
Pacquiao did not reveal how much he wanted to weigh on fight night, saying: “It all depends on how my body feels.”
Mayweather’s boast
Pacquiao, the sport’s only eight-division champion, has never had problems in the welterweight division, where he is slated to meet undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two clash in boxing’s most awaited bout, an event expected to draw almost $400 million in total revenues.
Mayweather has come out and said he would not only win but win “in a beautiful fashion,” in a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. He added that he expected the Filipino to fight differently than his previous opponents, most of whom were on “survival mode” when they fought him.
READ: Mayweather: Five ways to beat Pacquiao, no way to beat me
Eating Pacquiao’s dust
On Sunday, Pacquiao was asked about Mayweather’s place among all-time greats, but he refused any direct comment.
“Floyd, I don’t wanna say bad things about him,” the Sarangani representative in the Philippine Congress said. “But he’s good, he’s fast.”
Pacquiao has been training so hard and has improved so much as far as conditioning is concerned that even those who run with him during early morning jogs are starting to eat his dust.
“I used to be able to run along with him before, but now I no longer can because he’s just too strong,” said Arnel Fontanilla, a former boxer who won the weight-loss challenge.
Meeting Stallone
Pacquiao’s training at Wild Card Gym here has drawn a lot of celebrities, the latest of whom was action star Sylvester Stallone. Reports leaked from the closed-door meet between the two stars had it that Stallone invited Pacquiao to join the cast for the next “The Expendables” movie.
READ: This time, ‘Rocky’ throws support for ‘Pacman’
Pressed for details regarding the meeting, Pacquiao said Stallone, who played an underdog boxer in the Oscar-winning film “Rocky” and its sequels, just dropped by to offer encouragement.
“He’s showing his support for the fight,” said Pacquiao. “He always watches the fight.”
Originally posted: 5:52 PM | Monday, April 20th, 2015