SEE THE EXCLUSIVE SLIDESHOW FROM MONDAY, WILD CARD GYM, HOLLYWOOD
It was Rush Hour at Coach Freddie Roach's Sweat Palace, the Wild Card Gym.
There were schoolboys, one of whom pedaled his way to the gym on his bicycle, young 20ish women and an assortment of pro fighters, amateur boxers and even one actor who played on "Saved By The Bell."
There must have been 25 fight trainers in the crush including my old friend, former NABF welterweight champion Kevin Morgan.
Morgan, a smooth boxer who beat Sugar Ray Leonard opponent Larry Bonds, is the son of the late journeyman who may have had 200 pro bouts, LC Morgan.
I'll give you an idea of how outspoken Kevin is. I asked him who wins a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather bout and he did not stutter.
"Mayweather wins it. He is too smooth and too slick for Manny. Manny won't cope with his speed and defense," Morgan said.
I think Morgan and Coach Roach can agree to disagree on that one. Maybe Kevin needs to get his coat pulled by James Toney, former Roach protege who just likened L'il Floyd to a scared bunny rabbit.
Anyway, the larger point is that Superstar Manny trains like a true Democrat, like a real Man(ny) of the People.
He could snap his fingers and put the Wild Card on lockdown, make it his private training quarters only. But, on this nonsparring day, Pacman left the gym doors wide open.
So, when he was jumping rope, there were too schoolboys and one woman skipping right next to him.
When two kids who both looked to be about age 10 or 11 sparred, Manny pretended to be the unofficial referee and gave them their initial command, "Box!"
Everyone got a chuckle out of that.
More I think about it, the thriving Wild Card has become a genuine tourist attraction because of the magnetism of Megamanny.
After a couple of days around here, the rough edges of the sketchy neighborhood start to seem retro charming in a strange way.
I mean, derelicts have to live somewhere too, you know.
If you know someone who says boxing is dead or nearly so, have them step inside the Wild Card.
It brings back fond memories of the old Bobby Gleason's Gym when it was in the South Bronx.
And Johnny Tocco's Ringside back when I was a callow youth in Las Vegas. Johnny's motto was, "it takes balls to conquer the world."
And, of course, the great old Fifth Street Gym in Miami Beach.
The anchor for Chris and Angelo Dundee at Fifth Street was a guy named Cassius Clay who became Muhammad Ali.
Maybe you've heard of him.
The anchor here is a small Filipino guy named Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao.
If you come to LA, you should add a visit to the Wild Card to your itinerary.
It's like going back in time and it's a scene even a non-boxing fan can appreciate,.
Someone please tell me the last boxing superstar who trained among "the commoners" like this because I don't recall one.
You think you can walk into Floyd Mayweather's gym for free or even pay a nominal fee to watch him train?
Fat chance, my friends.
In a world of closed workouts, Pacman works out alongside the dues-paying gym members.
That's the kind of thing which, beyond his great ability, has made him into such a beloved icon.
He is the Man(ny) of the People, no doubt.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
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