Boxing Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach usually requires his fighters, including Pacquiao, to train at least two months before the scheduled fight.
During the training camp for most of Pacquiao’s previous fights, Roach allowed Pacquiao to train in the Philippines under Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and the assigned conditioning coach.
For his scheduled April 9 fight, Pacquiao needs to start training on February 9 to satisfy the usual eight weeks of training, which includes multiple sparring sessions.
Under normal conditions, Roach would likely allow Pacquiao to train in the Philippines up to four weeks. However, he would be training under an abnormal situation because his training period will coincide with the start of the election campaign schedule of national election candidates.
Pacquaio is running for senator, a national position. Under Philippine law, the campaign period for national candidates is set for February 9 to May 7 2016, which is almost exactly the same as his eight week training schedule.
While Roach has yet to decide on Pacquiao’s training schedule for the Bradley fight, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz has already voiced his opposition to Pacquiao’s training in the Philippines.
“I will urge him not to train here (in the Philippines),” Koncz told Nick Giongco of mb.com.ph. Obviously Koncz realized Pacquiao won’t be able to concentrate on his training as there would be too many distractions once the election campaign starts on February 7.
Pacquiao would be in a dilemma because he needs to campaign to solidify his winning margin in the last two pre-election surveys conducted by Pulse Asia which showed that he is included in the Magic 12 of winning senatorial candidates.
Pacquiao has yet to announce his campaign plan in relation to his training schedule which he would likely do when he embarks on a media tour with Bradley to promote their April 9 fight.
