Pacquiao is currently training at the Elorde Gym at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Philippines and plans to move over to General Santos City for the second leg of his training. Then he will proceed to Brisbane, Australia about two weeks before the fight.
But the original schedule could change because Pacquiao’s presence in the senate even after the last session day could be sought by the leadership of legislative body to deliberate on the issues concerning the imposition of martial law in the south.
“Depends on whether we move or not, when we move, if we move,” said Roach about Pacquiao’s sparring schedule. “I don’t want to fly those guys in and then have to fly them all the way into General Santos [City] if we go there, or we go to Australia. Wherever we go,” Roach told Ring Magazine writer Ryan Songalia at the Elorde Gym on Friday afternoon.
Roach is waiting for Pacquiao’s signal with regards to his legislative agenda in the light of the emergency situation prevailing in Mindanao.
“He hasn’t made his mind up. There’s martial law now so that could change things. Changes in the Senate also. His schedule could change,” Roach said.
Roach flew in last Sunday with with Strength and Conditioning coach Justin Fortune to supervise Pacquiao’s training camp and to join assistant Buboy and Haplas Fernandez who did a splendid job to prepare Pacquiao for the heightened sparring sessions in the coming days.
Roach was also accompanied by a lovely lady from Australia, who has been his regular date the past couple of weeks in Los Angeles. “She is off today,” Roach told this writer when asked why she isn’t around.
Contrary to reports that Pacquiao has been sluggish in the past few days, the 38-year-old reigning WBO welterweight champion has improved tremendously compared to his movement as shown in his first sparring session earlier this week.
Pacquiao’s speed and power will again be put to test when he starts sparring session with a new spar mate who is flying in today along with his longtime adviser Michael Koncz.
