Fortune: Mexican dealt Pacquiao bitter lesson

LOS ANGELES – What happened, or what almost happened, in San Antonio should serve as a big lesson for Manny Pacquiao.

According to Justine Fortune, who handled Pacquiao’s training in Los Angeles for the Jorge Solis bout, the Filipino ring icon should take each fight seriously as if his life, and not only his belt, depended on it.

Fortune, an Australian ex-heavyweight who pitched in for Freddie Roach during training, said Pacquiao can’t afford to fool around with anybody, not even a boxer who practically stood no chance of beating him.

At the Wild Card Gym last Monday, two days after Pacquiao knocked out Solis at the Alamodome, Fortune said Pacquiao should take this lesson to heart and carry it to his future fights.

Pacquiao is facing his next fight in September. It could be against reigning World Boxing Council super-featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez, ex-champ Marco Antonio Barrera or future champ Humberto Soto.

All three Mexicans want Pacquiao’s head.

"Manny can’t fool around with anybody - especially these guys. They’re no joke," Fortune told The STAR.

The next time Pacquiao trains for a fight, it should be full eight weeks at Wild Card, according to Fortune.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

"Manny should be here eight weeks before the fight," added Fortune of the boxer who spent the first four weeks of the Solis training back home in Gen. Santos City, and three more at the Hollywood gym.

Against Solis, Pacquiao tried to fool around in the early rounds and almost paid the price when he suffered a one-inch cut just above his left eye. But he went on to score an eighth-round knockout.

Fortune said he still expects to work with Pacquiao for the next fight, along with Roach who should be back at his gym two days after Oscar dela Hoya battles Floyd Mayweather on May 5 in Las Vegas.

Roach was with Dela Hoya all throughout Pacquiao’s training, but showed up on the day of the fight in San Antonio, and worked the Filipino corner.

"It should be the same team - Manny, Freddie and me," said Fortune amid fresh rumors of a rift between him and Roach regarding the check representing the trainer’s fee for the Solis bout.

Roach normally gets a check representing 10 percent of Pacquiao’s purse, then he takes care of Fortune. This time, according to philboxing.com. the check was issued under Fortune’s name.

Reports came out at philboxing.com yesterday that Fortune and Roach have already gone separate ways. It didn’t sound that way when The STAR talked to Fortune Monday at the gym.

Not unless he and Freddie had a fight on that night.