Manny Pacquiao typically is in a very good mood. He's always upbeat and often wears a large grin.
But Pacquiao seemed a bit distant Wednesday as he was about to be interviewed in a narrow dressing room inside his trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
As Pacquiao and reporters began to sweat inside the stifling 6- by 12-foot hot box, he was asked to respond to Roach's claim that he wasn't as focused as he should have been at his training camp in the Philippines.
"I'm still focused in the Philippines, but I have some things, though, in the Philippines," said Pacquiao, who arrived in Los Angeles last Saturday to finish preparation for his Nov. 13 junior middleweight title fight against Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium (on HBO pay-per-view).
Pacquiao was asked if, by "things," he meant his job as a congressman in his native Philippines was distracting him.
"Besides politics," he said.
Queried as to whether he would like to elaborate, Pacquiao had one word: "No."
Roach said there always have been distractions that have challenged Pacquiao's focus. But he admitted he was particularly concerned about some of Pacquiao's sparring sessions in the Philippines, where Pacquiao began his training.
"His focus during sparring was off a little bit," Roach said. "He was playing a little too much. He just wasn't really focusing on the game plan a lot. I'm not sure exactly where his head was at, but it wasn't where I wanted it to be."
Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, was in the Philippines for part of Pacquiao's training. He, too, was distressed about Pacquiao's psychological whereabouts.
"There were times in the Philippines where he frankly looked so flat and Freddie was alarmed and it was an issue," Arum said. "But (strength coach) Alex (Ariza) and Freddie know they will have him peaking at the right time."
It is what it is, Arum said. Pacquiao is a lot more than a fighter.
"There are other things in life than to be completely focused on boxing," Arum said. "He has other interests and other pursuits. That makes him the human being that he is. It's the whole package. Manny Pacquiao is not some fighter that all he does is lefts and rights. He does other things; that's what we live with.
"Whether it's politics in the Philippines, whether it's playing with his band, you know, that seems to work for him. I really believe that some fighters can handle it, and it helps, and some fighters can't. Manny, apparently he can."
By saying there was something other than politics taking attention away from his training, we could assume Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) has personal problems. Since he would not expound, that would indeed be nothing more than an assumption.
One thing is certain, Pacquiao's political career is dear to his heart and weighs heavily on his mind.
"I'm just worried about the politics being something he really wants to be good at and something that may take him away from us," Roach said. "I don't see that in the near future. But he loves being a politician, he loves to better his country.
"It's not like singing and acting, like it's kind of just fun. This is serious business and he takes it very seriously."
Pacquiao, 31, always has said he loves to fight for his country. But he also said his political career occupies a different place in his heart, perhaps a more special place.
"I don't want to compare it with boxing because being a congressman is a public service," he said.
One that could take him to the top.
"When he gets up there, and that'll be when he runs for vice-president and president, then he won't be boxing anymore," Arum said. "He'll be too old, anyway. This is the first step for Pacquiao on his road to the presidency."
Roach said although he was worried in the Philippines, he is not now that Pacquiao is in Hollywood. He referred to Pacquiao's first day of sparring at his gym Tuesday and said he looked like the Pacquiao of old.
"I'm always motivated," said Pacquiao, who said he has thought about retirement but wants a few more fights. "If I don't (stay motivated), I think I'm going to think about retirement."
Pacquiao promised he has plenty of drive for his fight in two weeks.
"I'm not underestimating Margarito because he can fight and is a very aggressive fighter and he's big," said Pacquiao, who will be giving up 4
Tijuana's Margarito, a huge underdog, also has nothing to lose and everything to gain. His career was in jeopardy when he was caught with plaster inserts in his hand wraps prior to his January 2009 knockout loss to "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Arum said Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) therefore knows how fortunate he is to get a fight of this magnitude. That's a dangerous recipe.
But if Pacquiao is tuned in, he will win.
Source: dailynews.com
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