The 35-year-old Pacquiao and Algieri, rive years the champ’s junior and a former martial arts campaigner, are scheduled to wipe each other out on Sunday at the Cotai Arena of the posh Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau.
“As I have been saying, matagal na akong excited umakyat muli sa ring and today as we started easing up on preparations, I can say na talagang reding-ready na at excited ako,” he said after completing a relatively light eight-round sparring. “Kung maari nga langx i-fast-forward natin ang araw para Sunday na,” he uttered.
“Manny’s ready and can fight any day from today, that’s why he’s tapering off his training here,” Roach told this writer following a, still rigorous four-round sparring each with Ukrainian no. l junior welterweight contender Viktor Polos and favorite whipping boy Stan Martyniouk.
“Manny’s already in fighting form and will be peaking within the week, Thursday, if my estimate comes true to form,” Fortune, for his part, assessed.
“Matagal na. Last week pa, pueeng-puede nang lumaban sa Manny,” Filipino assistant trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, meanwhile, chorused in agreement with Roach’s Fortune’s observations.
The sparring phase of preparations is almost finish and the Filipino crown- holder only needs very little improvements on what’s he’s gained in the last eight weeks of build up program since pitching camp here last September.
“In boxing, when you say you’re tapering off it means there’s nothing more you need in your arsenal. Manny’s got everything, he’s been training hard religiously the past two months. If ever he still needs something, it will be very, very minimum,” Roach assured.
Rounding out the sparring portion of training, Roach has scheduled a six-round skirmish today, again, with Polos abd Martyniouk at three rounds each and four rounds on Saturday.
“On Saturday, we pull down the curtains of the GenSan camp with a four-round (two-round) each) sweating out session<’ Roach disclosed with a smile. Showdown might determine Team Pacquiao flies to the China’s ‘sin city’ via two chartered flights to attend the traditional ‘Fight’ Week ceremonies leading to Sunday’s much-awaited encounter, considered crucial to both fighters’ careers.
For the Sarangani Congressman, the 12-round might determine whether there’s still chance for the much-sought after mega- fight with Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. is still possible, For the unbeaten challenger, who himself is not growing any younger, it means whether he’ already to pursue a rich, lucrative fighting career.