Wheel of Fortune spins for Manny

MANILA, Philippines - Justin Fortune is back as Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach. He’s expected to hook up with Pacquiao when the Filipino icon reports for work at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles this afternoon (US time).

“I’m happy to be back working with Manny and Freddie who are the best in the business,” said the Australian who worked six years with Pacquiao until after the Jorge Solis fight in 2007. “Manny’s a friend. He’s more than a fighter to me. At 35, Manny’s in great shape. Against (Timothy) 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.”

In 2008, Fortune opened his own gym after breaking off with Roach and Pacquiao. The facility is on Sunset Boulevard, about a 15-minute drive from the Wild Card Gym. He has built an impressive stable of clients including Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Renata (Babalu) Sobral, IBF Intercontinental lightheavyweight champion Anatoliy Dudchenko of Ukraine, unbeaten superfeatherweight Will Tomlinson of Australia and International Female Boxing Association bantamweight queen Bridgett (Baby Doll) Riley. Fortune has worked with Mike Tyson, James Toney, Israel Vasquez, Brian Viloria, Johnny Bredahl and Filipino superbantamweight contender Drian Francisco.

Fortune, 48, said he’s not in the habit of making predictions on the outcome of fights. “Anything can happen in boxing,” said Fortune in a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home last week. “I never make any predictions. That’s because I respect both fighters in the ring, no matter who they are. I respect Bradley, he’s got great legs, he’s a good guy, a champion. But I’ve got a job to do with Manny. He’s faced Bradley before. He knows what to do to win. It’s my job to get him in the best shape to make that win happen.”

As for Pacquiao’s power, Fortune said it’s a gift that won’t be diminished with age. “Power doesn’t go away or diminish,” he said. “He’ll be as strong as before. If you notice, older fighters with power are always dangerous because they’ve got a puncher’s chance to win. George Foreman still had his power when he knocked out Michael Moorer and he was 45.” Fortune said there’s no reason to doubt that Pacquiao will be in peak form for Bradley when they clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 12.

Fortune said Bradley’s pronouncements that Pacquiao has lost his killer’s instinct will backfire. “I read that Bradley wants the old Pacquiao back,” he said. “Well, I think Manny will give him what he wants.”

Fortune said down the road, he hopes Pacquiao will meet Floyd Mayweather, Jr. “As far as I’m concerned, Mayweather can’t go around saying he’s the best until he fights the best and for me, Manny’s the best,” said Fortune. The speculation is if Pacquiao disposes of Bradley and regains

the WBO welterweight championship, he’ll go after Juan Manuel Marquez next late this year. Once Pacquiao takes care of Marquez in their fifth encounter, Mayweather won’t be able to avoid the ultimate showdown that the whole world is waiting for. It will be the fight of the century with both fighters expected to earn at least $50 Million each on condition they keep winning from now until then.

Fortune was once a fighter himself and in 1995, battled heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis in Dublin. He wound up with a 15-9-2 record, including 9 KOs, and his last fight was in 2009. Fortune employs a team of trainers in his gym, specializing in boxing, Gracie jiu jitsu, mixed martial arts, muay thai and power yoga. He was the Australian powerlifting champion in 1987 and has squatted 365 kilograms as a 110 kilogram junior.

Fortune said he’s known Roach since 1992. “Freddie even trained me as a fighter,” said Fortune. “I know him better than anyone.” In 2007, Fortune and Roach had a bitter parting of ways over money and they sued each other. Their disagreement has now been resolved. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said it was the Filipino fighter himself who asked for Fortune to return to his team. Fortune was supposed to rejoin Pacquiao’s camp for the Brandon Rios fight but couldn’t disengage from his previous commitments in the US and passed up the chance. Now, Fortune is back where he belongs.

Pacquiao hasn’t scored a win inside the distance since halting Miguel Cotto in 2009, meaning his last seven fights all went the full route. Bradley said Pacquiao has lost the itch to pull the trigger. Koncz said Pacquiao is challenged by Bradley’s taunts and highly motivated to regain the WBO throne. Bradley, 30, has never been beaten. Pacquiao is on a mission to tame the Desert Storm.