Manny starts shaping up for next fight

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is not wasting time getting ready for his next fight – whether it’s against Floyd Mayweather Jr. or someone else.

The past few days, the 36-year-old Pacquiao has been out jogging in the morning. In the afternoon or at night, he plays basketball.

Last Sunday, he went out for a run inside Forbes Park, according to one of his deputies, Jojo Sta. Teresa.

Pacquiao has been telling people around him lately that he wants to make sure that when he gets the call to fight Mayweather on May 2, he’ll be ready.

“Light-light lang muna,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying.

Even while he was in the United States the past couple of weeks, Pacquiao was busy breaking sweat and loosening up.

At the times he skipped jogging, Pacquiao spent more time on the basketball court, playing three to five hours a day.

Pacquiao normally trains seven to eight weeks for a fight but if it’s against Mayweather he would need more time to be in tip-top shape.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, had said that for a Mayweather fight, Pacquiao needs to be “a hundred percent” ready.

Pacquiao is in General Santos City. On Instagram, he said yesterday he’s spending quality time with his family “before we start our formal training for the fight.”

Queries on which fight he was preparing for were left unanswered.

Negotiations are on for the Mayweather fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas although the past few days has been quiet.

The excitement has died down since the two boxers met twice in Miami two weeks ago.

Mayweather hasn’t posted anything new and relevant to the fight on the social media except a short 12-second video of his Miami meeting with Pacquiao.

The video showed Mayweather speaking in front of Pacquiao.

“Before we leave the sport, we need to make the fight happen,” Mayweather said.

Pacquiao is not issuing any statements as well as his promoter Bob Arum and chief adviser Mike Koncz.

“Nothing new,” Koncz texted The STAR the other day.

Pacquiao is just loosening up.