MANILA, Philippines — Unti-unti nang lumalabas ang bagsik ni eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao na naghahanda para sa laban nito kay reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Mario Barrios sa Hulyo 19 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sa kanyang post sa social media, sumalang sa ilang serye ng training camp si Pacquiao kasama si trainer Buboy Fernandez.
Kita ang lakas ng kamao nito sa bawat suntok na binibitawan.
Malayo pa sa kanyang peak form si Pacquiao ngunit mababakas na rito ang bilis at liksi ng galaw nito.
Inaasahang mas lalo pang magiging matindi ang preparasyon nito sa mga susunod na linggo upang masigurong nasa perpektong kundisyon ito bago sumabak sa laban.
Naniniwala ang dating nakalaban ni Pacquiao na si Chris Algieri na kayang maipanalo ng Pinoy champion ang laban nito kay Barrios.
Aminado si Algieri na si Pacquiao ang pinakamatinding nakalaban nito sa kanyang boxing career kaya’t alam nito kung gaano kalakas ang kamao nito.
“Pacquiao was a truly special fighter. He’s also the best I ever fought. And while the odds may be stacked against him, I’m convinced he can win – and that makes him fighting Barrios very intriguing,” ani Algieri sa kanyang artikulo sa Boxing Scene.
Alam ni Algieri na may edad na si Pacquiao na nasa 46-anyos na.
Subalit hindi maikakaila ang malalim nitong karanasan na magiging bentahe nito sa laban.
“The reality is also that Pacquiao is 46 years old, has had 72 fights, and has fought 498 rounds. That’s a lot of training camps, a lot of weight making, and a lot of wear and tear,” ani Algieri.
“He was also an aggressive fighter who, at his best, took risks and relied on his explosiveness and intensity – abilities that are among the first to go,” dagdag nito.