Manny Pacquiao speaks to the media in Brisbane, Tuesday, June 27, 2017. Pacquiao, is putting his WBO belt on the line Sunday, July 2, against the 29-year-old Australian fighter Jeff Horn. (AP Photo/John Pye)
BRISBANE, Australia—For all the claims and glowing reports that Manny Pacquiao is in tip-top shape for his battle with Jeff Horn on Sunday, Dundee Kim dares to go against the flow.
“It’s rather strange, but Pacquiao looks like he didn’t prepare the work,” Kim told Filipino sportwriters after the press conference of the “Battle of Brisbane” at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday. “He’s not ready.”
Kim, a Korean who migrated here and serves as Horn’s conditioning coach, believes the hard work Pacquiao put in in the last three weeks of training camp won’t be enough to keep his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
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“It seems he underestimates Horn, and that’s a mistake.”
According to Kim, he’s basing his judgment from what he’d seen in You Tube videos and Facebook posts in the last two months. He also senses Pacquiao’s condition through the color of his face, the eyes, and his movements.
“His (Pacquiao) feet isn’t moving, his head isn’t moving, his power isn’t ready,” said Kim, who also serves as fitness guru of teams from South Korea, China, and Japan for the past ten years.
Conditioning coach Dundee Kim. Photo by Roy Luarca
Kim said his task is to develop Horn’s muscle mass and improve his speed through exercises and paddle work.
And Kim believes he’s succeeded and Horn will deliver the “biggest shock in the world and throw it upside down.”
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The 49-year-old, who’s a Pacquiao fan and a Christian as well, said Horn is a different animal from Pacquiao’s previous opponents.
“The way I’ve trained him, his intensity right from the start all the way up to 12 rounds,” said Kim, who warned Pacquiao that he might get hurt by Horn.
Kim said he’s talking from experience.
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“I’m not trying to scare, but my left body is really sore from the pounding I’d been getting from Horn in training.
“If he connects without body shield, it’s gonna hurt,” said Kim, adding that he’s going on a holiday after the July 2 title fight to reset and recuperate. “I’ve nothing left, all my energy is gone.”
Pacquiao, of course, always oozes with energy for every fight. Unless, Kim turns out to be a psychic or a fitness genius.