Manny Pacquiao: Lackluster, distracted, I don't see it at Wild Card Gym -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

HOLLYWOOD—It's quite obvious that master multitasker Manny Pacquiao does not eat, sleep and breathe boxing.

What Pacman calls multitasking, many others view as distractions from his position as the world's finest fighter, unless and until proven otherwise by Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr.

I keep looking for telltale signs that the Pinoy Idol, turning a not so ripe or so old 32 in December, has lost some of his fighting edge or the proverbial “fire in the belly,” but so far, I see nothing of the kind.

Now admittedly, I've only been in Room 201 at the adjacent to the Wild Card Gym Vagbond Gym for one full day and Tuesday I may miss some Manny action by rolling up to Camp Antonio Margarito in Oxnard, about 60 miles north of here.

But from what little I saw of Pacquiao Monday after his closed door pads and exercises only workout, I do not see a jaded performer who is halfheartedly going into this Nov. 13 bout against the Mexican Outlaw.

To the contrary, Congressman Pacquaio seemed as engaged as ever, posing for photos with a one month old baby girl and with other fans who got passed the magic portals of Nat's Thai Food Restauarant, kittycorner from the gymnasium in this seen better days long ago mini strip mall.

While Pacman ate, and he ate like a horse with conditioning/nutrtition guru Alex Ariza supervising and watching each and every food morsel and the famous protein shakes go down into the Pacquiao gullet, he also enjoyed watching some of his early fights, including the fight in Thailand where as a scrawny flyweight he captured the green and gold WBC belt.

Pacman's brown eyes lit up when he flattened Chatchai Sasakul with a devastating combination in the eight round. It looked to me like he was still excited, sort of like Rembrandt viewing one of his masterpieces, even though he has seen that title bout replayed I'm sure 1,000 times.

That was Pacman's first world title diadem and, if he is any less enthused about adding an eight weight class world title strap at Cowboys Stadium or any less focused on his fistic chores, I have not seen it as of yet.

Keep in mind the doom and gloom outlook coming out of Coach Freddie Roach's mouth, the jawing about “the worst training camp we ever had,” is designed to lit the box office and PPV flames, to lure the public into thinking that Margo is better than the 6 1/2-1 underdog the bookies have him down as.

And keep in mind this is the same Roach who barks about his prized pupil will flatten Margarito in eight or nine rounds.

I'm sure Angelo Dundee, who used to deliver the same type of doubletalk and palaver for Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard bouts, would be proud of Coach Roach.

I repeat myself but, although I see no easy waltz for Manny, I don't think Tone Loc's best effort will be enough for him to time the darting in and out Pacquiao with too many solid blows.

The bookmakers do mistakes but not very often.

Not to say that Pacquiao's preparation is flawless or that his fight night effort will be.

But it says here he gets the job done and the final scorecards are more wide than they are close.

Again, I don't see the physical strength and battered pride of Margarito permitting even a charged up Pacquiao from stopping or KOing him.

Unlike the bookies, I am wrong on the regular.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com