The reigning Fighter of the Decade, Philippine Senator Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs), has two weeks of rigorous training at world-famous Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club, six weeks total, under his belt.  Manny is in full throttle for his challenge of WBA welterweight super champion Keith "One Time" Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs), which takes place in about 17 days.  Daily morning runs of three to five miles with hundreds of fans trailing, followed by one thousand sit-ups and assorted drills, afternoons at the gym, filled with ten rounds of sparring, 10-12 rounds of mitts with Freddie and Buboy Fernandez, endless rounds of heavy bag and speed bag work, are capped off with another 1,000 sit-ups.  Is this normal behavior for a 40-year-old man?  Probably not, but no one ever accused Manny of being ordinary.  He continues to be history in the making.

 

“Manny is so unbelievably fast.  He’s 40 years old and moving around the ring with the same speed he had when he was just a seven-division world champion,” said Roach.  “Manny has Keith Thurman’s number.  Thurman is slower than Heinz ketchup.  Manny is going to beat him 57 ways on July 20th.  The fans know it, and the sports books know it.  Manny has gone from underdog to a betting favorite.  Manny is money for this fight.  It’s going to be champagne and Lobster Thurmandor for us!”