Road to Marquez: LA, 28 days remain!

Keith Terceira

The intensity level is growing and workouts are getting more demanding as Pacquiao increases, step by step, to the November 12^th showdown with Juan Manual Marquez. Manny is working all his exercises with just a bit more spark, a bit more muscle goes into the heavy bag, and believe it or not, more speed in the mitt work.

Throughout this camp we have seen kidding and joking, good humor combined solid camaraderie in Team Pacquiao but all the while behind the dark eyes of Pacquiao lurks a touch of darkness, that hardness that propels this boxer to achieve continued greatness.

There is something special that occurs between camp members when the hardwork needs to be done, when people share the separation from their families, and when everyone has long days and early morning. It is the life of a family, the life of warriors, and everyone has a roll in assuring success.

Some are disappointed that Manny playfully slaps a Team member, they believe it unprofessional.

Only someone who has shared a room, a foxhole, or a locker-room can understand the sense of family, of team, that happens between the people who share so much time and dependence with each other. You develop a closeness that only a younger brother understands, a squad member, or a team mate. It is a way to shed the stress. It is done out of friendship and only as a sign of respect. There is no playfulness shown to people that are not special to the champ.

It is no different than patting the back or punching the arm of a member of your soccer team, giving your little brother that headlock and tickling them, or pulling a practical joke on a co-worker.

For me it makes Pacquiao, the Congressman, the Singer, the eight-time world champion, all the more human, and the more real, all the more worthy of peoples respect. To many people out there today are phony and fake for the cameras.

I would rather associate with  a person that shows me he is real, human, and less than robotic, than be involved with a created persona that behind the scenes, when the camera is off, is someone totally different. The world  is full of  politicians  and ex-politicians  that have given us that fake front and gotten the globe in a sorry state because of it.

Be it Hastings Bwalya or for that fact, Jorge Linares who spars with the Philippine phenom, a change occurs in the demeanor of this fighter when the gloves are on and an opponent enters the ring. A veil is lifted to expose the beast within the beauty that is the Pacman.

Yesterday was no different, the footwork progressed, the hand speed showed more RPM’s, and the heavy bag took increasingly more punishment.

“Step by Step, I get in better condition” Pacquiao stated the other day.

We saw the results of another step accomplished yesterday in the gym.

There is always a smile for the camera, but when his focus goes back to the exercise at hand the veil comes down and the change is dramatic. The switch is amazing and I have only ever once seen it as obvious and that was with Ali.

Watching Mayol, Concepcion, and Beltran work is just an added plus to the Wild Card experience and you can enjoy them as well thanks to MP8.ph videos.

October 22^nd is the date that HBO 24/7 filming is set to be televised and HBO is getting some great footage and quotes so set your recording devices so you can save these segments for the future.

You will regret not having these in 20 years. Somewhere out in the universe are films and photos from 30 years ago lost by yours truly in moving that I wish I could locate.

Ciao!