Pacquiao off to Arlington for final stop

Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao goes to Arlington, Texas today for the final stop in his quest for more boxing glory. The 31-year-old Filipino southpaw’s departure for the Lone Star State signals the formal countdown for his Nov. 13 showdown with Antonio Margarito of Mexico for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight championship. A chartered Boeing 757 flight will transport the boxing superstar to Texas, befitting his status as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter today. Numbering about 180, Pacquiao’s entourage includes trainer Freddie Roach, assistants Nonoy Neri and Buboy Fernandez, physical and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, his wife Jinkee, mother Dionisia, members of his family, close relatives, and some of Pacquiao’s colleagues from the House of Congress, where he represents the lone district of Sarangani. Once again, Miami Airline International is providing the Boeing 757 the group will be using for the flight. It was the same airline company that brought Pacquiao and his group to Texas eight months ago for his title fight against Joshua Clottey. The aircraft has served as the same carrier for popular NBA teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and as far back as the 1992 USA Dream Team. “Ready na tayo. Hinihintay na lang natin `yung laban," said Pacquiao, who's seeking a record eight world titles in eight different weight classes, when he took a day off from training Sunday. Pacquiao and Co. are set to leave late in the afternoon for the three-hour flight from Los Angeles to Texas, as boxing’s most famous southpaw is still scheduled to spar at noon at the Wild Card gym before finally breaking camp. “He (Pacquiao) thinks we’ll go four, but we’ll go three and he’ll ask me for another one before I will let him go," said trainer Freddie Roach of Pacquiao’s final sparring. “We’ll do a couple of mitts and that’s it. Monday’s gonna be just a light workout because we have to travel later that day. “We’ll leave at 4 o’clock, but more like 5 o’clock. We’ll gonna be late because that’s Manny Pacquiao," Roach said while letting out a big smile on his face. Having kicked off training camp in Baguio City before extending it to L.A., Pacquiao caps his six weeks of training by doing almost 100 rounds of sparring, alternating betwen the bigger Michael Medina, Glen Tapia and Amir Khan, the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion, and old hands Rashad Holloway, David Rodela and Rey Beltran. “He knows the game plan. Whatever Margarito does, he knows the answer," added Roach. “He knows how to win this fight. He’s exactly ready for the fight." After a light five-round sparring over the weekend, Roach told the decade’s best boxer to take a rest Sunday. Although he skipped training, the day was just as busy for the Pacman. After his early morning run at the Pacific Park, Pacquiao had breakfast with his mother at his posh Palazzo apartment before proceeding to the Christ the King church for the regular Sunday mass. Following a brief rest in the afternoon, Pacquiao went to the Cascade music studio in Sta. Monica to rehearse with his band and close friend, singer-composer Lito Camo, as they prime up for their post-fight party in Lake Tahoe, California. During the dry run, the boxing champion and his band belted out a few songs, including the Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody, Bryan Adams’ Everything I Do, I Do It For You, and the anthemic Imagine by John Lennon. The rehearsal stretched until early evening. Pacquiao then capped his day by watching the Sunday episode of 60 Minutes, where he was the featured story. - KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV