Pacquiao’s training right on schedule, says adviser

Allaying fears that everything is not going fine in Manny Pacquiao’s high-altitude training camp in Baguio City, Michael Koncz, one of the closest advisers of the boxing champion, assured that the `Pacman’ is very much in focus for his Nov. 13 title date with Antonio Margarito of Mexico. “On Manny’s behalf, there is nothing to worry about," Koncz said. “He’s right on schedule and he’s extremely motivated." Koncz had to make the guarantee amidst great concerns that the 31-year-old Pacquiao has been incautious in training for a fight he considers time and again, as one of the toughest in his boxing career. Frequent playing of basketball at night and missed early morning road works depicted the early part of Pacquiao’s training in the Baguio highlands. Likewise, he had to break camp and travel back to Manila and honor a commitment as special guest during a military sports competition in Camp Crame as well as participate in a huge charity run aimed at the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. The boxing icon also skipped training for a day after contracting a mild cold. Koncz did acknowledge the hectic schedule Pacquiao had in his capacity as boxer, celebrity and congressman from the lone district of Sarangani. But at the same time, he stressed that the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter has never been remiss preparing for his bid to win a record eighth world title exactly a month from now. “Manny is working very hard and doesn’t want his fans to worry that anything is wrong with his training, he said." Koncz added Pacquiao is doing well in training camp and expects the phase to shift to higher gear with less than two weeks left before the Filipino boxers’ entourage proceeds to Los Angeles, California for the final stage of the camp at the Wild Card gym of trainer Freddie Roach. - RCJ, GMANews.TV