Trainer Buboy Fernandez has hit back at claims that former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao is burnt out after splitting his time between his dual roles as senator and boxer.
Pacquiao is currently training for his July 15 fight against WBA “regular” welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse set to take place at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to the Manila Times, on Wednesday the 39-year-old national hero left a senate session to attend the Elorde Gym in Pasay City for a training session consisting of mitt work and bag work. But after an hour or so in the dressing room Pacquiao asked his coaching staff if they could skip the day’s gym routine.
“Manny told me and coach Justin that in as much as we’re scheduled to leave for GenSan… why can’t we cancel the day’s schedule so everybody can rest,” Fernandez told the Manila Times.
“We also thought it’s better that we cancel that day’s schedule… for the much tougher stage of the preparedness scheme.”
Fernandez, a life-long friend of Pacquiao’s, took over head coaching duties for this camp after regular coach Freddie Roach was unceremoniously dumped by the Filipino superstar earlier this year.
There has been speculation that Pacquiao’s ageing body is unable to handle the rigours of a full training camp the way he did when he was younger, but Fernandez insists Pacquiao is in fine shape.
“Manny’s well, he is handling himself well and we in the training staff are training him well,” said Fernandez. “We know— coach Justin, Noy (Nonoy Neri), Haplas (Roger Fernandez), Dodong (Donaire) Ting (Ariosa), Jonathan (Peñalosa), everybody — that the eyes of the entire boxing world are on us.
“What we can only promise them is, we know what we’re doing, we know the best way to prepare him for this fight and his to him win.”
The fight against Argentine knockout artist Matthysse will be Pacquiao’s first since losing his WBO welterweight title to unheralded Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane last July.
