Manny eyes KO win this time
LAS VEGAS—It’s chaotic at his 60th-floor suite at THEhotel, but Manny Pacquiao is at peace with himself.
He slept soundly Friday and appeared at the weigh-in for his fight against Shane Mosley recharged and refreshed.
He’s oozing with extra energy that he chose to run at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas tracks Thursday afternoon, setting aside the advice of strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who eventually tagged along.
Ariza knows that Pacquiao is so pumped up that he can hardly wait for the fight to happen.
As early as two weeks ago, chief trainer Freddie Roach and Ariza had been left with very little to do as Pacquiao has done everything they asked of him.
And Pacquiao always asks for “extras” during his training regimen—when he’s sparring, hitting the mitts, shadow boxing or the usual exercises.
“How I wish it’s already the day of the fight,” Pacquiao told one of his close associates on Wednesday, when he went straight to the gym to loosen up.
As usual, Pacquiao refuses to predict a knockout victory.
He always follows the trite line that the veteran Mosley is also fast, strong, and a good boxer.
Nothing wrong there, except that his focus and dedication in training indicate that he’s going for the kill this time.
Roach said he’s motivated Pacquiao to aim for a knockout—which no fighter has inflicted on Mosley—to further cement his position as the world’s best fighter.
Roach also wants to use a knockout win in hopes of luring Floyd Mayweather Jr. to a mega-buck fight with his prized ward.
