Fearing burnout, trainers stop Pacman workout

LAS VEGAS – Barely 48 hours before the fight, Manny Pacquiao was told to abandon plans to have an afternoon workout following a 20-minute road work as his trainers fear he might suffer a burnout on the eve of the weigh-in.

Pacquiao arrived at the Top Rank gym at around 3 p.m., wanting to break sweat two days before he completes his trilogy with Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand here.

But Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, said enough is enough.

“He said he wanted to shadow-box,” said Roach who, in one of the rare times, prevailed upon the boxer, who just doesn’t know when to stop, that training is over.

“We didn’t want him to overdo things,” Roach added.

The official weigh-in is at 2:30 p.m. Friday (Saturday in Manila), and Pacquiao is having a little difficulty getting near the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez said Pacquiao was around 142 pounds Thursday. Had he trained he would have lost a couple more.

“Ayaw na namin baka masunog na (We didn’t want him burned out),” said Fernandez.

Pacquiao, the trainers felt, reached his peak in training last week in Los Angeles, and there was nothing more to gain by spending another hour or two at the gym.

“If he trained today nothing would’ve happened. His body would have lesser time to recover,” Fernandez said.

“If he continued his training today, he might end up very weak,” he added.

The other day was supposed to be his last day of training. But Pacquiao still got away with a 20-minute run on the UNLV track oval Thursday morning, and wanted to do a light afternoon workout at the gym.

After the session was called off, Pacquiao headed out of the dressing room in jeans and training jacket, paused to greet some fans, and left.

He went straight to his suite on the 60th floor of Mandalay Bay Delano, rested a while then led his group in a Bible study that lasted over an hour.

By dinnertime, those who packed the suite started to leave after being told that Pacquiao was not to sign autographs and have pictures taken the rest of the evening.

Normally, Pacquiao is at the gym on the last Thursday before a fight for some light training, more of going through the motions so close to the fight.

Not this time.

Hours before, at around noontime, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said if he could have his way, he’d call off the afternoon workout.

“He already ran this morning. His metabolism is so fast,” said Fortune.

The former heavyweight contender expects Pacquiao to weigh in at 145 pounds Friday, and add just a few more pounds before climbing the ring Saturday night.

Bradley should have no problem making weight and could weigh in on the dot at 147.

“We’re on weight,” said his trainer Teddy Atlas.

Back home, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada predicts Pacquiao will prevail over Bradley.

“He is still strong. He will knock down Bradley in sixth round. That’s my fearless forecast,” he said.

Estrada has arranged a free showing of the fight in seven venues in Manila tomorrow.

Pacquiao’s colleague, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, urged his fellow political candidates to set aside their differences and support the Filipino boxing icon.

Pacquiao is running for the Senate under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) while Gatchalian is running under the independent slate of presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe.

“This is the time to put politics in the back burner and unite behind our fellow Filipino and international boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in his third fight against American boxing champion Timothy Bradley,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian admitted Pacquiao will be having an undue advantage over him and other senatorial candidates due to the international media coverage of the fight.

“Let’s face it, Manny Pacquiao will definitely score points among the electorate because of the live telecast of his fight with Bradley. His conversion factor or those voting for him will surely increase, especially if he wins this third fight with the American champion,” he said.

Gatchalian said he agreed with former elections chief Sixto Brillantes who had earlier advised Pacquiao to postpone the April 9 bout, saying it gives him more exposure as a candidate that is not allowed among national celebrities.

The Commission on Elections, however, said Pacquiao will not be violating the Omnibus Election Code since the live coverage of his fight will be about his career as a professional boxer and not about his campaign for a Senate seat. – With Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano