By Recah Trinidad
Inquirer

LOS ANGELES–Hotly favored Manny Pacquiao prepared to shift to war mode Sunday, a full week before his big battle in Las Vegas, but the Sportsbook here registered a considerable dip in his bet approval rating.

Pacquiao’s windy workman’s hair is set to be trimmed Monday, the goatee he had grown in training shaven, but there were contrasting speculations on why the enormous odds favoring him to repeat over Marco Barrera slid.

From a whopping minus-350, it’s down to minus-290, meaning you’d need to wager $290 for a possible return of only $100.

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By Inquirer

CEBU CITY–Celebrated American trainer Freddie Roach raised both thumbs Monday after Manny Pacquiao cruised through his first 12-round session at the Rex “Wakee” Salud gym virtually unscathed and wanting for more.

Pacquiao has now sparred 80 rounds in preparation for his mammoth rematch with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on Oct. 6 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“It was OK, he did great,” said Roach. “He just stayed a little bit too long on the ropes.”

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THAT was the interesting question posed by a caller on Canada’s “In this Corner with Russ Anber” boxing show.

View the YouTube video clip to find out Anber’s answer.

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By Calvin Cordova
Inquirer

CEBU CITY, Philippines–There was a moment in the ring when those who spoke of a rumored rift between Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach would have found vindication.

While the Filipino boxing hero worked the mitts with his equally noted trainer, Pacquiao accidentally hit Roach’s abdomen hard enough to force a loud “ouch” from the American, and a chorus of laughter from the throng that packed the gym.

“It was a pretty strong punch and he hit me in one of my broken ribs, which has yet to heal completely,” said Roach. “I held my breath there for a while.”

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By Inquirer

CEBU, Philippines–Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao started his training here Wednesday, confident that he still has enough time to prepare for and inflict a second defeat on rival Marco Antonio Barrera when they trade leathers on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas.

“He started training today,” said Rex “Wakee” Salud, owner of the newly built gym where Pacquiao intends to put himself back into tiptop shape. “He looked good. He’s in high spirits and seems focused on the task at hand.”

Pacquiao started working out at 1 p.m. Wednesday, doing some shadow-boxing, pummeling the big bags and the speedball, jumping rope, and hitting the mitts. The session ended at around 4 p.m. with the reigning WBC super featherweight titlist sweating profusely.

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By Roy Luarca
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao arrived Monday from a vacation in the United States and reiterated his desire to avenge the loss of his brother Bobby to Mexican Humberto Soto in New York recently.

“It’s going to be a beautiful fight; Soto is also good,” said Pacquiao, who was accompanied by wife Jingkee and sons Emmanuel Jr. and Michael Stephen.

Manny received his award as Fighter of the Year from the Boxing Writers Association of America on June 8, and then gave his deposition in the case filed by Golden Boy Promotions against Top Rank in Los Angeles.

Nothing definite has come out of the promotional tug-of-war.

POOR Manny.

He’s made us proud time and again with his incredible exploits inside the boxing ring, but his ill-fated decision to enter the political arena resulted in a humiliating defeat.

What’s worse, if this information from a reader of Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Recah Trinidad is true, Pacquiao lost the election and a lot of his own money because he was “knocked out” by his own general campaign manager.

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