Manny Pacquiao's camp is keeping their expectation high ahead of the mega-showdown with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr amid reports of disarray in his training. In fact, assistant trainer and Pacquiao's long-time buddy Buboy Fernandez believed the Filipino world champion has already harnessed enough power in his punch to knock out Mayweather after one month of intense training.
Fernandez insisted that he made that bold prediction of a Pacquiao KO win not just because he wanted to shut down the rumors of a reported conflict within the Filipino champ's camp, it 's just what he has observed from the eight-time division world champ after going through a series of strength and conditioning exercises, boxing drills and sparring sessions.
Several news media outlets, including Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report, reported over the weekend about Pacquiao's trouble of sustaining the high-intensity training because of recurring cramps in calves area that troubled the Filipino champ in his previous fights. There were also growing concerns that Pacquiao's mindset for the bout remains below 100 percent.
Other than Fernandez, former WBC light flyweight champ and Pacquiao's running partner Rodel Mayol also denied any setback or tension within camp, as he even thought that Pacquiao appears to have recaptured to 'old hunger' that willed him to victories against the very business during his prime.
"For this fight it is amazing," Mayol said via USA Today. "I see he doesn't get tired, not like before he fought (Chris) Algieri, (Shane) Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez - then he took it easy. This time he is very motivated."
With Pacquiao already tabbed as the underdog in the magefight, boxing analysts believed the only chance for the Pacman to beat Mayweather and give the American his first ever professional boxing loss is for him to bring back the well-oiled fighting machine that stormed the boxing world five or six years ago. A level below that won't make any difference against Mayweather, who is also putting his WBC/WBA/RING Magazine welterweight gold at stake on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.