Mendoza: Pac training is first step to victory

I like that.

I refer to Mayor Peter Rey Bautista’s call for his constituents in Baguio to stay away from Manny Pacquiao while the world pound-for-pound king is busy training for his world title fight against Miguel Cotto in the Pines City’s hallowed grounds.

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Pacquiao is known to be totally consumed by concentration whenever he is training for a fight.

That 12-round bout, with Cotto’s 147-lb crown at stake even though they will slug it out at a catch weight 145, will be held on Nov. 15 (RP time) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

You will remember that Freddie Roach had fiercely objected to Baguio as Pacquiao’s training camp for fear that the fans and close friends of Pacman would intrude into the privacy of the six-time world champ’s camp.

But Roach finally relented when he received assurances of a fool-proof formula to shield and smokescreen Pacquiao from the prying eyes of an adoring public, let alone the chopper-flown Pacman associates from the upper crust of society.

All four weeks of training in Baguio are crucial for Pacman as Roach will prepare the champ once more into a killing machine.

“This time, it is foot speed and not hand speed that we need to concentrate on against Cotto,” said Roach for his ward’s preparation.

I can believe him.

For one, Pacquiao has that innate hand speed that had previoulsy put 36 men to sleep.

For another, although Cotto is a plodder and a body banger, he has no lateral movement to speak of.

Pacquiao thus needs a pair of winged feet to circle around a menace like Cotto.

So, c’mon fellers, let’s heed Mayor Bautista’s call. Let’s give Pacquiao all that space.

With his much-anticipated victory anyway against Cotto, we will all share with Pacman’s glory once it has been secured.

But first, the thought: Everything starts with the first step.

And training is the first step.

Not easy as A-B-C.

*****

What did I tell you?

You saw it yourself. Floyd Mayweather Jr. merely toyed with Juan Manuel Marquez. As expected.

At 32, Mayweather is still as lethal as he was 21 months ago. Quick. Precise with his shots. Slippery as an eel.

His unanimous decision victory not convincing?

Not if you are looking for a knockout.

Mayweather fights to win, not to KO a foe.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/mendoza-pac-training-first-step-victory