Pacquiao was set to start his formal training for the Horn fight Tuesday but opted to attend the opening session of the senate instead of starting his training at the Elorde Gym near the senate offices in Pasay City, Philippines.
Longtime Trainer Freddie Roach has set Pacquiao’s training schedule at eight weeks before the actual fight on July 2. Obviously the schedule will have to be changed in the wake of Pacquiao’s preoccupation with his senate duties.
Roach, who is set to stay six weeks in Manila to personally supervise Pacquiao’s training camp, has yet to announce his arrival date.
The seven-time trainer of the year has just returned to the US following his rendezvous with new pupil Scott Quigg, who fought and won in the undercard of the Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko fight at the Wembley Stadium in London, UK.
Assistant Trainer Buboy Fernandez has yet to join Pacquiao in Manila for the scheduled training. His brother Roger “Haplas” Fernandez said Buboy is still in Bicol where he is serving as an elected town councilor.
“Kailangan kasi mag-meeting pa kami para maplantsa ang training regimen, so, kapag nagsimula na, tuloy-tuloy,” (There is a need for us to meet in order to iron out the training regimen so that when we start it will be continuing), the younger Fernandez explained.
The seemingly relaxed atmosphere in the Pacquiao camp with regards to the training schedule indicates that Roach and his team are not worried about the Horn fight although Pacquiao has said while in Australia to promote the fight that he isn’t taking Horn for granted because he is unbeaten and is also a good boxer.
Roach has earlier said he will go for a knockout win for Pacquaio on July 2.
