MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is already at 80% fitness with still five weeks to go before his comeback fight against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas, assistant trainer and close friend Buboy Fernandez reported.
Pacquiao, who is training for the November 5 fight while also fulfilling his duties in the Philippine Senate, has worked double time this past week after the arrival of strength and conditioning trainer Justin Fortune.
"Manny's 80% ready," Fernandez told Alinea.
Fernandez also revealed that they started Pacquiao's sparring sessions even ahead of the arrival of chief trainer Freddie Roach, who is set to touch down in Manila on Tuesday and take charge of training camp.
"We took it upon ourselves – Manny and members of the training team – to hold at least two sparring sessions this week, precisely to gauge how far the first four weeks of preparation had gone," Fernandez explained.
"At 'yun nga, after weighing in what transpired during the one-month period in camp, I came up with the conclusion that Manny is coming fast, ready to fight," he added.
Fernandez acknowledged that Pacquiao and other members of the team may have a different assessment of his own conditioning level, but they all agree that the "Pacman" is on the right track.
"Alam namin na kaunti na lang ang kailangan ni Manny para mag-peak in the coming five weeks, under the supervision already of Freddie," he said.
Pacquiao, for his part, did not give Alinea a specific percentage but said he was in good condition.
"Malapit na mag-peak," the boxer-senator said.
Pacquiao made a very brief retirement following a unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley Jr. in April. He won a seat in the Philippine Senate in the May 2016 elections, and announced his return to boxing in August.
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