Veteran trainers have always been wary of their boxer leaving his fight in the gym," which is to say that an athlete can overtrain and be flat and stale come the night of his bout. Too much work can be, well, too much for even the most well-conditioned prizefighter. After all, we’re talking about the human body and the possibility, or indeed the likelihood, of it breaking down.
But Roach and Fernandez trust the experienced Alex Ariza, Manny’s conditioning coach, who knows when to say "when." Unlike any other fighter I have ever seen, Manny's "when" comes hours after most boxers have showered, dressed, and left the building.
Pacquiao, who weighed only 138 pounds for his last fight and has only once gone over 140, is amazing in that he has to eat constantly to maintain a higher weight. While his trainers won’t tell us how many pounds Manny may drop in a workout session, it has to be considerable.
Now while appear to be gushing at the time and energy expended by Pacquiao once he gets to training camp. Cotto also does not mess around. He is dedicated and serious when he trains, a study in lethal concentration and fierce resolve, but Cotto's regimen more closely resembles that of other elite fighters. Manny’s work rate is simply mind-blowing, but Cotto's is deadly serious. Nothing interferes with Miguel's focus on his work. There is no entourage, no crowds of howling fans, just a hard man who has won several world titles and is bearing down on his preparations.
It's fun to watch Pacquiao train. It's scary to observe Cotto in the gym.
This fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will be something special. It promises to be a match between two proud warriors who have trained well for the violent war of attrition this contest promises to be. Each man knows the risks involved, and both understand that somebody is liable to get hurt.
But that's how these guys roll. Two great champions, one great fight. I can't wait.