By Ronnie Nathanielsz
IN an unusual twist unlike the past fights, the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach is locked down and the lips of Team Pacquiao’s members are sealed.
ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo told the Standard/krikya360.com that Pacquiao again skipped sparring on Saturday after his usual morning run at the Pan Pacific Park, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
Pacquiao went to the gym, but only worked on the punch-mitts and a few of the other routine exercises.
Castillejo reported that Pacquiao, Roach and even Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who was at the gym, declined to give interviews.
The speculation is that Pacquiao may have over-trained and is feeling the burnout factor, which Roach had warned about and there is a deliberate effort to hold Pacquiao back.
The Standard and BoxingScene also received word that even Mayweather, who also has been driving himself like never before, has cut back on his sparring.
MLive boxing writer David Mayo, who is from Michigan and a friend of Mayweather, said that while Floyd has southpaw sparring partners in his Las Vegas gym, they have no fighters who could emulate Pacquiao.
Mayo pointed out that while Mayweather has fought a number of lefties from 2004 to 2006, with two of them, former champions Zab Judah and Demarcus Corley now serving as sparring partners, he believes that without them pushing him in fights, he wouldn’t be where he is right now.
Mayo conceded that Pacquiao “might hope to create some early confusion and is undoubtedly the most talented left-hander Mayweather has faced, but he isn’t the first to try.”
Mayweather faced a number of southpaws during his amateur days and eight more professionals, with three of his first nine pro bouts against southpaws resulting in knockouts.