Pacquiao to workout at Salud's RWS Gym

In a rare opportunity for the Cebuano boxing fraternity, Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will workout for two days at the RWS Gym owned and managed by Cebuano bigtime promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud.

Salud confirmed to The Freeman yesterday that Pacquiao will be coming over to Cebu this Thursday to do the ropes, slam the punching bag and hit the speed ball at his modest sweat shop situated at Guadalupe Village in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.

Pacquiao's decision came as a shock to his close associates as Pacman was supposedly scheduled to leave for the United States last night to train at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California for his September 10 bout against Mexican Hector Velasquez.

"I'm very happy. Imagine, he rescheduled his US trip at the last minute just to pass by Cebu and train for two days at my gym. That only shows how close Cebu is to Pacquiao's heart," said Salud, who guided Gerry Peñalosa and Malcolm Tuñacao to become world champions.

Salud said Pacquiao will train at his gym for only two days as the former Ring Magazine featherweight champion will leave for US on August 7 together with veteran sportswriter Nick Giongco and long-time backer Lito Mondejar.

Salud is hoping that Pacquiao's visit will serve as an inspiration and a morale-booster to his boxers, who aspire to follow in the footsteps of the General Santos City-native punisher someday.

"I hope that Pacquiao's visit will inspire my boxers to work even harder to reach their goals of becoming champions someday," said Salud.

Salud currently takes care of a pool of ring stars that include WBA Fedelatin minimumweight champion Eriberto "Yukka" Gejon, ex-OPBF welterweight titlist Rev "The Gentle Giant" Santillan and former OPBF super bantamweight title-holder Jimrex Jaca.