Pacquiao set to start training versus Mexican

Manny Pacquiao’s focus is back on boxing after attending to a New York court case against former promoter Murad Muhammad, filming a movie, shooting commercials, making public appearances and fulfilling social commitments the last four months.

Pacquiao will leave for Los Angeles on Sunday and will immediately start training at the Wild Card Gym to get in shape for his 12-round bout against Hector Velasquez of Mexico at the Staples Center on Sept. 10.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is imposing a strict closed-door policy to make sure there are no distractions from fans during the workouts. A plan to bring Pacquiao to Phoenix or the Big Bear Lake camp was scuttled because of logistical concerns, particularly in ferrying sparmates.

Not too many sparmates survive Pacquiao’s battering for long so Roach keeps a large pool of available fighters waiting in line.

Nicholas Khan, a lawyer who is part of Pacquiao’s management team, confirmed that the Wild Card Gym will no longer be an "open house" when the Filipino is in training. A security guard will be posted to assure privacy in the facility, he added.

"I think he’s 100 percent of clear mind," said Khan, quoted by NorthSideX4 in the SaddoBoxing.com website. "He finished filming a movie last week so that was the last distraction."

Also on the Sept. 10 card is Erik Morales who takes on Zahir Raheem. If both Pacquiao and Morales win, they’ll figure in a grudge rematch in December or January.

Morales decisioned Pacquiao in Las Vegas last March but the outcome was far from convincing. Morales was ahead by only a point in the three judges’ scorecards after nine rounds and Pacquiao nearly floored him in the 12th.

"Not to take anything away from Morales who performed remarkably in his last fight but the distractions were overwhelming," said Khan in SaddoBoxing.com. "So much so that the day before the fight, Pacquiao had no sleep. People from his former team were constantly bringing in luminaries from the Philippines to see him and meet him and it just wasn’t a good environment for a fighter who needs to be at peace."

Morales, for his part, downplayed Pacquiao as a threat and said their fight was just another day in the office.