It’s been strictly business for Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card since beginning his U.S. portion of training camp in late 2018.
There were no shutdowns or holidays to keep him away from the festive period.
After celebrating New Year’s Eve with a five-mile run up the hills to the Hollywood sign. Pacquiao did 12-rounds of mitt work with Freddie Roach.
Manny began 2019 the same way he ended 2018.
Only this time, he sparred 12 rounds with three younger sparring partners in addition to a full session of bag work capped off with 1,000 situps.
Giving their own opinion of how Pacquiao is doing now that he’s turned 40 years old. Fitness coach Justin Fortune and head coach Buboy Fernadez were adamant ‘Pacman’ is in top shape.
“He runs like a deer,” said Fortune, who oversees Manny’s strength and conditioning. “No one can keep up with him. That’s the secret to his success — his work ethic and his stamina.
“He has the strongest foundation of any fighter with whom I’ve worked. His legs and calves still generate more power and speed than younger fighters.”
Buboy said: “I am very pleased with the training camp Manny has had. His footwork, distance, and angles are all coming together nicely.
“When he hits the mitts, it sounds like an explosion. I have never felt such raw power.”
A three-time Fighter of the Year and the Boxing Writers Association of America’s reigning Fighter of the Decade, Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) hails from Sarangani Province, Philippines. He is the only sitting Congressman and Senator to win a world title.
After serving two terms as Congressman, Pacquiao was elected to a Philippine Senate seat in May 2016, capturing over 16 million votes nationally.
Pacquiao’s boxing resume features victories over at least seven current and future Hall of Famers. Including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez.
In his last fight, with Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duerte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad in attendance, Pacquaio, 39, regained the welterweight title for a fourth time with a vintage performance on July 15 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pacquiao knocked out defending WBA champion Lucas Matthyssee in the seventh round.
Cincinnati’s Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) is a former four-division world title-holder. He’s one of boxing’s most popular and colorful personalities.
The brash and outspoken 29-year-old has faced some of boxing’s best en route to winning titles at 130, 135, 140, and 147 pounds, including Mikey Garcia, Paulie Malignaggi, and Shawn Porter.
Broner, who will face his 10th world champion in Pacquiao, scored a draw in his last fight in April on SHOWTIME against former two-division world champion Jessie Vargas.
