Pacquiao advises friends to 'relax' as D-day nears

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is looking fine and feeling good with less than a week to go before he takes on Oscar de la Hoya. And to show just how composed he is for the most important fight in the history of Philippine boxing, Pacquiao played down the hype. "Relax lang kayo, masyado naman kayong kinakabahan," he told those present in a lunch he hosted on Sunday. "Masyado kayong tense e. Relax lang kayo," he said smiling. Fighting an opponent that is figuratively and literally bigger than he is, Pacquiao looms as a 2-1 underdog going to his 12-round welterweight slugfest on Sunday (Saturday evening, US time) with the legendary de la Hoya. But Pacquiao is hardly bothered by the odds staring at him. Being a rest day, Pacquaio attended early morning mass on Sunday at a Christ The King Church along with pregnant wife Jinkee, close relatives and family friends. Afterward, he had lunch at his high-end apartment at The Palazzo where he feasted on chicken, kalderetang kambing, pansit and laing. Pacquiao gives away P3.62 million for 'biggest losers' But the highlight of the day was the conclusion of a weight-loss program undergone the past two weeks by 29 members of Pacquiao's entourage. The deal was those who shed 10 pounds or more would get $2,000 (P97,920), and those who exceeded the 15-pound limit were given $3,000 (P146,880). A total of 16 people received $3,000 each, eight received $2,000, while five who didn't meet the quota went home empty-handed. Pacquiao's fitness and conditioning coach Alex Arisa got rid of the most weight with 20lbs and received a bonus of $10,000 for a total prize of $13,000 (P636,480). In all, Pacquiao gave away a total of $74,000 (P3.62 million). The boxing icon personally supervised the weigh-in along with Team Pacquiao physician Dr. Allan Recto. "I thought it was important for me to go ahead and show the signs of doing it right and correct although 20lbs in 12 days probably isn't the smartest thing to do," Arisa said later. "But I think it's good for me to know what Manny goes through, what he puts himself through. I'm sure I don't event have a small taste of it, but its enough for me not to want to do it again," he added. Pacquiao holds his final sparring session at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning (Monday morning, US time), going two rounds each with Rashad Holloway and Marvin Cordova. In the afternoon, Team Pacquiao rolls out for a four-hour trip to Las Vegas. - GMANews.TV