By EDDIE G. ALINEA
LAS VEGAS, Nevada– After completing a total of 130 rounds of sparring since he pitched camp in General Santos City, Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao starts tapering off on his training regimen Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) ahead of his third fight with Timothy Bradley this coming Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Arena here.
A very light roadwork that would probably be held at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a similarly sweating out session with the mitts with chief trainer Freddie Roach awaits the 37-year-old Sarangani Congressman on that day, which in all probability will be the same pattern he will follow Wednesday before throwing himself in complete hibernation until the day of the fight.
“We’ll be training for only two more days in Las Vegas then rest all the way until his date with Bradley on Saturday,” Roach said after a four-round sparring with Colongese-Canadian Ghislain Monday, the day Team Pacquiao left Los Angeles on the way here.
The team, along with some 300 of his followers, supporters, relatives and media men riding in a 40-vehicle caravan set foot on this city of vices at around 9 o’clock Monday evening following a five-hour trip.
The three-time ‘Fighter of the Decade’ tendered a dinner for members of his entourage at his suite at the 60th floor of the Delano Hotel.
After Tuesday’s roadwork, Pacquiao will proceed to the MGM Grand main lobby for the customary Grand Arrival ceremony where he will be facing Bradley for the first time since the the three-city press conference announcing the fight.
Bradley has been awarded the honor of being the first to be received by the host hotel at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Filipino at one o’clock.
Scheduled Monday, according to advisory released by Magna Media, is the undercard media day workouts at 1 p.m. at the Top Rank Gym.
Meanwhile, the distribution of the temporary credentials for media men also starts at noon Tuesday at the provisional pre-center at Studio 1 of the MGM Grand Arena.
The traditional Grand Arrival Ceremony will be at noon on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). The main event press conference will be held the next day 10:30 a.m. at the David Copperfield Theater inside the MGM Grand followed by the pay per-view Fighters Meet and Greet Autograph session at 2 p.m. at the MGM Central Race and Sports Book with Top rank Knockout.
The usual Trainers round table meeting with media has been scheduled Thursday (Friday in Manila) at 10 a.m. at the Media Center followed by the HBO PPV Undercard Fighter pres conference.
Official weigh-in will be Friday (Saturday in Manila) at 2:30 p.m.
(Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea)