Pacquiao has been working full time as Philippine senator while training for his upcoming title fight against Vargas. In both jobs, he been publicly praised for his discipline and utmost dedication to his work. True to what he promised his constituents during the last election campaign, Pacquiao recorded a 100 percent attendance and has yet to miss a single session in the senate.
Since the start of training for the Vargas fight, Pacquiao’s daily routine includes morning exercises that include jogging in his neighborhood grounds. Then he reports to his full time job in the senate which takes most of his daytime schedule. In the evening he trains with longtime coach Freddie Roach at the Elorde Gym near his senate office.
“I have been training Manny for 15 years and even after all this time he still amazes me,” said seven-time Trainer of the Year and Hall of Famer World-Famous Freddie Roach. “He’s pushing 38 and he still outworks every fighter I’ve ever worked with. He’s had a killer schedule during this training camp but it’s been really productive. You’d have to see it to believe it,” Roach added.
Asked what he does to to function well on his multiple jobs despite time constraints, Pacquiao said he is powered by his passion for the sport and his burning desire to serve the people.
“It is all about discipline and time management,” said Pacquiao. “Boxing is my passion and public service is my calling. I will continue to travel both roads as long as I can do both effectively. I dedicate the fights I take on to my fans and my countrymen. They have kept me in their prayers. I fight to bring glory to the Philippines whether I’m wearing boxing gloves or standing on the floor of the senate.”
For his part Arum is amazed about Pacquiao’s soaring popularity citing news about him on a daily basis online as well as in mainstream media. He also cited Pacquiao for bringing great honor to the sport and to his country.
“Manny is the only person I know who you can read about in the sports section and the national news section of the same newspaper on a daily basis,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “When Manny is inducted into the Hall of Fame, his plaque will say he was boxing’s only eight-division world champion, but that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what makes him so special. He is literally a national treasure who has brought great honor to the sport and to his country. He’s the amazing Manny.” Arum added.
The 37-year-old neophyte legislator will become the first senator in history to win a major world boxing title if he wins over Vargas, who is putting his WBO welterweight title on the line on Nov. 5.
Pacquiao is set to fly to the U.S. on Saturday for the final phase of this training at the famous Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
