Not one to rest on his laurel, the Pacman said he is working hard at the training camp so he’d be able to put on a "masterpiece" inside the ring to truly cement his status as the decade’s best fighter.
"Dahil ako ang No. 1 pound-for-pound champion ng mundo at ang tinaguriang 'Fighter of the Year' at 'Fighter of the Decade' ng (BWAA), alam kong lahat ng bagay at pagkakataon ay gagawin ni Clottey para manalo at pumuntos ng isang upset sa aming laban," Pacquiao wrote in his Kumbinasyon column for Abante.
"Kaya naman, kailangan ko ring patunayan na ako talaga ang karapat-dapat na makakuha ng award na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalabas ng isang panibagong obra-maestra sa ibabaw ng ring. At kailangan kong lumabas na kahanga-hanga," he added.
Pacquiao beat out Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Joe Calzaghe for the boxing scribes' "Fighter of the Decade" plum and joined the legendary Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as three-time winners of the "Fighter of the Year" accolade.
The BWAA award was announced just as Pacquiao was in the thick of training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under the supervision of Freddie Roach, who himself has won a record-setting fourth Trainer of the Year honor from the same body.
"Talagang puspusan ang aking paghahanda para sa laban na ito dahil hindi ko maaaring talikuran at biguin ang lahat ng mga sumusuporta at naniniwala sa aking kakayahan. At talaga namang walang puwang ang pagiging over-confident sa laban na ito dahil nakataya pa rin ang karangalan ng aking bansa," Pacquiao said.
To keep the Filipino constantly fired up, Roach has tapped younger, stronger and taller partners for his sparring sessions, which have now been increased to seven rounds. Among the young turks trading punches with Pacquiao are 5-foot-11 Jose Buenavidez, 17, and 5-foot-9 Mikel Dallas, 23.
"Maganda yan (having young sparmates) kasi agresibo pa sila at talagang suntok nang suntok and then malalaki pati," Pacquiao said in a TV interview with GMA News.
Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez said Pacquiao is fast getting into tip-top shape for the Clottey fight, which will take place about four months after his last gig against Miguel Cotto.
"Stamina at timing na lang kasi ngayon andyan na yung speed na hinahanap ni coach Freddie," Fernandez told GMA News.
Roach has predicted the fall of Clottey, who has not been previously KO’d.
"Clottey is very basic, he does the same things, but he is very good at what he does. But Manny is going to knock him out. He (Clottey) has a great chin, a big right hand, but Manny knows how to nullify his strengths," Roach told The Telegraph’s Gareth Davis.
Mosley next?
Looking forward, Roach expressed the possibility of the Pacman meeting either Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley next. Mayweather, who was originally supposed to battle Pacquiao until disagreement over dope-testing procedures doomed their planned megafight, and Mosley will take on each other on May 1.
And Roach will be an interested spectator of the Mayweather-Mosley duel.
"Mosley will be beaten by Floyd. Mosley does well with guys who will come at him. He has had trouble with guys who move. Mayweather wins that fight. But Mosley is a brave guy. If for any reason Mosley wins, Manny would definitely fight him. We’ll take that fight," Roach said.
Source: Author Unknown | GMANews.TV
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