Pacquiao: Killer instinct back

 In this April 12, 2014 file,photo, Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines, trades blows with Timothy Bradley, in their WBO welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas. This is not Hagler-Hearns or Tyson vs. Anyone. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the greatest defensive boxer in history, and Manny Pacquiao hasn’t shown knockout power in a while. Expect this fight to go to the scorecards. AP

LAS VEGAS—Beware Floyd Mayweather Jr.—Manny Pacquiao’s “killer instinct” is back.

The Filipino champion issued that warning after the American champion said he planned to come out swinging and be the aggressor in their superfight in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Working out at Top Rank gym here, Pacquiao jogged in place and began throwing speedy punches before letting out a heavy breath of air and screaming: “The killer instinct’s back, baby!”

The thin crowd that milled around the ring during the surprisingly open workout clapped their hands and cheered. From his corner of the ring, Freddie Roach smiled.

As Roach drifted away from journalists that descended on Pacquiao while he did a television interview, Roach said to anyone who cared to listen that he needed Pacquiao to be a killer.

“He can’t do good guy on the ring against this guy,” Roach said, referring to Mayweather, who battles Pacquiao in a megabout at MGM Grand Garden Arena that’s projected to earn $400 million—three fourths of which the fighters will split.

“He can’t trust this guy,” Roach said, smiling.

Elaborating on this, Roach said Pacquiao can’t do the things he used to do before, like touching gloves with Mayweather during the start of a round or during clinch breaks.

Mayweather has shown he will take advantage of every sign of goodwill, like when he knocked Victor Ortiz out cold while the latter was apologizing for a headbutt.

Mayweather’s dirty tricks

Roach admitted that part of the training for Pacquiao’s bout against the undefeated American centered on prepping him up for Mayweather’s dirty tricks—and how the Filipino ring icon can throw some of his own.

In several open workouts, Pacquiao was seen using his elbow as a defensive tool against Mayweather’s underhanded tendencies.

“I taught (Pacquiao) a few tricks of my own,” said Roach.

Pacquiao trained on what was supposed to be his day off, limbering up for a fight that could make boxing history in so many ways.

In terms of economy, the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout has already made it. Aside from the revenue the fight will make, the bout has greased the wheels of this gambling haven’s casino economy.

Five-star hotels have raised their room rates exponentially—some by as much as 10 times, according to media reports here. And even so, there are very few available rooms left.

A Las Vegas magazine reported that someone was renting a five-room house two blocks off the famous Strip for $5,000 a night. Private rooms in residences have been pegged at $174 a night.

Someone reportedly even posted a tent in his backyard for rent at $24 a night.

Experts have said minimums on casino tables could bottom at $50 or $100. And betting rooms have opened lines for how many pay-per-view (PPV) buys the fight will generate, putting the line at above or below 3.15 million.

The record for PPV buys is 2.4 million, when Mayweather fought Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.