LOS ANGELES ? Pinoy boxing superstar and reigning World Boxing Organization Welterweight king Manny Pacquiao has appealed for understanding from his diehard fans.
?This fight is for the fans. I want to train hard and focus for the fight to give the kind of entertainment the fans deserve,? Pacquiao told Agence France Presse (AFP) during interview.
Pacquiao claimed he doesn?t want any distraction while preparing for the ?real fight of his life.?
Pacquiao will face undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on May 2 in Las Vegas in what has been touted as the richest fight in boxing history.
?The fans waited for this fight to happen in about half a decade. This fight should live up to its billing. We can only do this if the fans are happy and satisfied,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao?s appeal to the fans is ? give him enough time to rest.
Pacquiao explained that as the fight day draws nearer, he doesn?t want to tire himself out by granting photo ops or signing many souvenir items like gloves, photographs, T-shirts, just to mention a few.
In his previous fights, fans came in droves waiting for him to finish his jogging or gym workout then swarmed him with requests for autographs, photo ops, etc.
?My time to rest is delayed and it makes my hand tired. This time around, I hope, my fans would understand. I may spend less time with them just to focus on my training. This is not an easy fight so I have to be at my very best,? Pacquiao stressed.
The Filipino ring idol said he doesn?t want to offend his fans and that he would still accommodate some of their requests.
?Due to my training, I could no longer accommodate everybody. Maybe, some of them. Anyway, I?ll make up with them after the Mayweather fight. I am giving them my assurance,? he said.
Another reason why the boxer-lawmaker was trying to avoid a crowd at this point in his training is to prevent contracting a disease.
Members of Team Pacquiao are now limiting the number of fans making direct contact or getting closer to the Pinoy boxing hero to prevent him from catching any disease that may disrupt his training.
Restituto ?Buboy? Fernandez, assistant trainer, said ?We are following a time lime in this training. We don?t want any distraction that may preclude us from achieving the goal we set.?
At Pacquiao residence at Plymouth Street here, Team Pacquiao security posted a notice informing the fans of the curfew hours.
No one should hang around after 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily.
Fernandez said allowing Pacquiao get enough time to rest means giving him more reserved energy.
?Our boxing hero needs power and an endless supply of oxygen to sustain his relentless attack against Mayweather,? Fernandez said. /By Aquiles Z. Zonio
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