MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach swears he can still see fire in Manny Pacquiao’s eyes.
“I am telling you Manny’s not taking this fight lightly,” said Roach Friday from Baguio City where they’ve been camping out the last three weeks to prepare for the May 7 collision course with Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
Roach may sound like a carnival barker but the fact that they’ve only missed one workout is a sign that the 32-year-old Filipino pound-for-pound king means business.
And the fact that Pacquiao has decided to transfer his training camp to the more familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood as early as next week is proof the fighter who has won eight world titles in as many weight classes hasn’t lost the desire to excel.
“He’s been working hard in training and he’s just right on track,” said Roach as he was keenly awaiting the arrival of his prized ward to show up at the gym Friday.
Pacquiao kicked off his sparring session with a four-rounder last Tuesday, racked up an additional five on Thursday and is expected to do another five or six Saturday afternoon just before Team Pacquiao departs for Los Angeles later in the evening.
Roach said Pacquiao will continue working with Shawn Porter and David Rodela at the Wild Card but a couple of more guys will be tapped as the number of sparring rounds begins to jack up.
The Mosley fight will be Pacquiao’s 20th outing on US soil since making his debut in June 2001 and marks his return to the MGM Grand after an absence in 2010.
Pacquiao has won 16 of those 9 fights in America, was held to a draw twice and lost only once – to Erik Morales – a defeat he avenged in the rematch and in their third encounter.
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