MANILA, Philippines - Magbabalik si Justin Fortune bilang strength and conditioning coach ni Manny Pacquiao at magsisimula na ang kanyang trabaho sa pagbubukas ng training camp ni ‘Pacman’ sa Wild Card Gym ni Freddie Roach sa Los Angeles.
“I’m happy to be back working with Manny and Freddie who are the best in the business,†sabi ng Australian na nakasama ng anim na taon ni Pacquiao bago ito umalis noong 2007. “Manny’s a friend. He’s more than a fighter to me. At 35, Manny’s in great shape. Against (Ti-mothy) Bradley, Manny will be strong and quick. No problem with cramp issues, those will be addressed. He’ll be in the best shape of his life.â€
Noong 2008, binuksan ni Fortune ang kanyang sariling gym sa Sunset Boulevard na 15-minute drive ang layo sa Wild Card Gym. Sa kanya naggi-gym si Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Renata ‘Babalu’ Sobral, IBF Intercontinental lightheavyweight champion Anatoliy Dudchenko ng Ukraine, unbeaten superfeatherweight Will Tomlinson ng Australia at International Female Boxing Association bantamweight queen Bridgett ‘Baby Doll’ Riley. Nakatrabaho ni Fortune sina Mike Tyson, James Toney, Israel Vasquez, Brian Viloria, Johnny Bredahl at Filipino superbantamweight contender Drian Francisco.
Hindi ugaling magbigay ng 48-gulang na si Fortune ng prediksiyon. “Anything can happen in boxing,†aniya. “I never make any predictions. That’s because I respect both fighters in the ring, no matter who they are.