Pacquiao: It feels like I’m floating

Manny Pacquiao with sparring partner Ray Beltran. Photo by Roy Luarca

HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao was a vision of harmony in motion during training Thursday afternoon—and it had a lot to do with being back at Wild Card Gym here.

“Here, it feels like I’m floating,” said Pacquiao in Filipino, contrasting the experience with the early part of his training he spent in Manila at Elorde Gym near Mall of Asia.

“There, it’s hard to move. As if I am sinking,” said Pacquiao, while shadow boxing. “When I do two rounds, it’s as if I’ve already done four.”

According to assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao has looked better in training for the Nov. 5 World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight against Jessie Vargas since arriving in Los Angeles Monday.

“Manny is already 100 percent,” said former champ Jonathan Peñalosa, a member of the training staff and older brother of two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa. “Timing, speed, coordination, are all there.”

Though conditioning coach Justin Fortune believes Pacquiao has reached his physical plateau, the former heavyweight boxer consented to another uphill run for Pacquiao at Griffith Park Friday and also agreed to one more on Monday before Team Pacquiao heads to Las Vegas in a convoy.

“He has amazing recuperative powers,” said Fortune. “As long as he rests, he’ll be fine.”

Elated with the day’s three-hour session, Roach, whose hands got numbed due to Pacquiao’s power punches, said victory is in sight. A knockout, however, isn’t on his radar yet.

But as long as Pacquiao trains diligently the desired outcome is within grasp.