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Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez insists there is nothing to worry about after Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao missed his morning run last weekend ahead of his May 2 mega-bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
USA Today reported that strength and conditioning coach Justine Fortune informed Pacquiao’s regular running partners Saturday morning that the “Pacman” “won’t run today.”
“It’s not the end of the world, but we do it for a reason,” Fortune was quoted as saying.
Later, Fernandez offered an explanation.
“Sa amin kasi, alam namin na heavy kami ngayon, at kinabukasan ay sparring, so kailangan namin i-relax namin ang mga muscle namin,” Fernandez said.
“Next day, may sparring tayo. Ang sparring natin, mahaba. Nasa eight rounds tayo lagi. So kailangan natin, nasa tamang pahinga,” he added.
USA Today’s Martin Rogers also quoted Fortune as saying that while Pacquiao won’t run, “we will make up for it with the work we do later.”
Rogers noted that there have been some concerns lately within the camp about Pacquiao’s calves, which had to be treated after cramping up last week.
READ: Why Pacquiao changed his jogging route
Fernandez assured the Filipino boxer’s fans that all is well, however.
“Wala namang problema sa ganoon, kasi alam namin ang ginagawa namin,” he said. “Saka mahaba pa. Mahaba pa ang patuluan ng pawis, kasi meron pa tayong limang linggo.”
“Kailangan, huwag muna nating bigla-biglain, kasi iniiwasan din natin ‘yung masunog,” he added. “Parang nagsaing ka lang niyan na kailangan bantayan mo ng mabuti.”
Pacquiao is hoping to give Mayweather his first ever professional defeat when they finally face off on May 2 at the MGM Grand. — From a report by Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN News North America.
The story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
