Manny Pacquiao starts taking it easy

Photo by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

Manny Pacquiao has begun to taper off in training going into the last weekend before he rides to Las Vegas for the 71st fight of his career.

Reports coming out of Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, Pacquiao’s main base as he prepares for a title bout with Keith Thurman, said that Senator Pacquiao has already cut down on rounds in sparring and mitts sessions. He is still keeping to his road and gym workouts, however.

Pacquiao will lead a long queue of vehicles heading for Las Vegas on Monday.

“He pushes hard when he feels like he needs to, and takes a break when he feels like he needs to,” said his fitness coach Justin Fortune.

Already, sparmates AB Lopez and Arnold Gonzalez said they are feeling Pacquiao’s sharpness and readily predicted a knockout win over Thurman on July 20 (July 21 in Manila) at MGM Grand.

The 40-year-old future Hall-of-Famer has been in a jovial mood during the intense training camp.

In between workouts, he has sneaked in a Universal Studios trip with wife, Jinkee, and his five kids. He also spent a day training with eldest son, Jimuel, who is trying to carve his own boxing career.

Pacquiao worked the mitts with Freddie Roach, while Jimuel trained with Marvin Samodio in the other corner.

Meanwhile, veteran referee Kenny Bayless has been tapped to be the third man on the ring on fight night. It will be his 11th time to referee a Pacquiao fight.