It doesn’t bother Manny Pacquiao if Miguel Cotto had gone four weeks ahead of him training for their November 14 title showdown.
That has always been the case for him.
“Ganyan naman palagi. Nauuna mag-train ang mga kalaban natin," he said upon arriving at the JFK Airport in New York for the start of his five-city press tour to hype his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight fight with Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao stressed eight weeks of training is just enough for him, as proven by his big wins over former world champions David Diaz, the great Oscar De La Hoya and most recently, Ricky Hatton.
The Filipino ring icon also said weight would not be a problem this time as he currently tips in at 150 pounds, just five pounds over the catch weight of 145.
Upon arrival from the long 18-hour trip, Pacquiao checked in at Loews Regency in Park Avenue along with training assistant Roger Fernandez and advisers Mike Koncz and Franklin Gacal.
Cotto arrived in the fabulous US state hours later from Puerto Rico.
Although he’s been in training camp already for about a month, the WBO champion said they’re not into doing heavy stuffs yet.
The training, according to Cotto, was more on doing morning runs and some conditioning exercises, although he already sparred for at least three times.
“I just want the space for the hard weeks ahead. I don’t train the full week. And I just sparred like three times in those four weeks," Cotto said, admitting he’s about 161 pounds at this time.
He's not concerned too on Pacquiao's relatively late training regimen.
"It's not a matter for me but a matter for him (Pacquiao) if he doesn't train early. You know what kind of things you should do to be in shape," he said.
The press tour begins with a press conference at the Yankee Stadium Thursday (Friday in Manila), after which, the two fighters will have a photo shoot for the fight posters and commercials.
By Friday, the group heads for Puerto Rico, then flies to Atlanta the following day, San Francisco, and finally Los Angeles.
In L.A., both boxers will undergo medical at the Beverly Hotel before capping the tour with another presscon.
Pacquiao will stay in the Bay Area until Tuesday as he will do the ceremonial pitch for the Padres-Cardinals game at the Petco Park in San Diego.
He is expected to be back in the country Thursday to start his training
Source: gmanews.tv
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