Timing’s just right

MIGUEL COTTO’s camp said he is right on track in his training, although he’s just a week into his program.

Manny Pacquiao said he himself is on track, although he has yet to get back in the gym.

The flamboyant Filipino southpaw remains in the country while his rival has already began his preparations, drawing speculation he is taking the world welterweight champion lightly.

But Pacquiao, considered the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound, is sticking to his schedule which includes television shows and some appearances for product promotions. He stressed he is in control of his schedule.

The 30-year-old Pacquiao leaves for the US next Wednesday, which should be right on schedule for an eight-week program before the November 14 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Kapag lumalagpas kasi ng eight weeks ang training, medyo overtrained na ako, hindi maganda ang kundisyon ko pagdating sa fight,” said Pacquiao.

“Kapag under naman ng eight weeks, masama din ang kundisyon ko. Kaya ang training palagi dapat eight weeks before the fight.”

After the megabuck fight with superstar Oscar de la Hoya late last year and the surprisingly one-sided victory over light-welterweight Briton Ricky Hatton last summer, Pacquiao has channeled his energy to his show business career.

From appearances in variety shows as a singer, cameos in soap operas to hosting an infotainment show, the lefty fighter from General Santos City now has his own weekly comedy program.

Those and more product endorsements, including the Head and Shoulders shampoo he launched on Wednesday in a Makati hotel, have been keeping the popular brawler out of the gym.

Still, the biggest-earning Filipino sports hero has proven doubters wrong and despite criticisms of his late night outs, he has maintained his fighting form and has not lost in 10 bouts.

He stressed that when he does hit the gym, he focuses on the fight and nothing more.

“Pag training na, pag-aaralan nating mabuti si Cotto,” said Pacquiao. “Habang nagti-training tayo, every day nating pag-aaralan ’yung style niya. Kung ano’ng dapat gawin, ’yung mga techniques.”

Cotto defeated Michael Jennings in the battle for the vacant World Boxing Organization welterweight crown in February and four months later defended it against Joshua Clottey.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph