GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Idineklarang “off-limits” sa media ang training session ni World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao kahapon dito sa Pacman Wild Card Gym.
“As usual, the same rules apply. The training session starting today is off-limits to the media. Only the members of Team Pacquiao will be allowed inside,” sabi ni trainer Freddie Roach na dumating dito nitong Miyerkules kasama ang dalawang sparring partners ni Pacquiao.
Mananatili ring “closed door” ang sparring session ng kampeon umpisa bukas.
“I brought along two sparring partners. The two others are still coming. The first sparring session will be on Saturday,” dagdag ni Roach.
Kasama ni Roach na dumating dito sina Stan Martyniouk, 29, at Mike Jones, 31.
Ang 5-foot-10 na si Martyniouk ay dating sparring mate ni Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire. Siya ay may ring record na 13-2 (2 KOs).
Si Jones naman ay may height na 5-foot-11 at may kartadang 26-1 (19 KOs). Siya ay dating welterweight champion ng WBO, North American Boxing Association (NABA) at North American Boxing Organization (NABO).
Kasama rin ni Roach sa GenSan para mag-ensayo sina WBC light-weight champion Antonio DeMarco (29-3-1, 22 KOs) at IBF super middleweight champion Lucien Bute (31-2, 24 KOs).
Nakatakda namang dumating sa linggong ito ang isa pang sparmate ni Pacquiao na si 30-anyos Ukrainian boxer Viktor Postol (26-0, 11 KOs).
Hawak ng 5-foot-11 na si Postol ang WBC light welterweight Silver championship.
Sadyang matatangkad ang mga kinuhang sparring partners ni Roach para kay Pacquiao dahil ang makakasagupa nito sa Nobyembre 23 sa Macau na si Chris Algieri ay may taas na 5-foot-11.
Samantala, sinabi ni Roach na nangako sa kanya si Pacquiao na sa opening game lang ng PBA sa Oktubre 19 maglalaro si Pacquiao.
Si Pacquiao ay playing coach ng Kia Sorento.
“He asked me to allow him to play just once. We already talked about that,” sabi ni Roach.