Pacquiao tells foe to train hard

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Manny Pacquiao took the dais, uttered a few words and then the crowd was in stitches.

Pacquiao obviously did not mean to demean Shane Mosley or crack a joke but on Thursday at the Beverly Hills Hotel, even the subject of his opening words wound up wearing a big smile.

Pacquiao actually wished Mosley the best of luck going into their scheduled 12-round title fight on May 7 at the MGM Grand but one line caught everyone’s attention.

“I hope you train hard for this fight,” said Pacquiao, looking in the direction where Mosley and his handlers sat.

But before he could be mistaken for being too cocky, Pacquiao was quick to say that he, too, will train like hell.

“I have to train hard because I don’t want to disappoint the people who will watch the fight. That’s what I like to do, make people happy,” said Pacquiao, the last sentence being standard response during press conferences and interviews.

And that’s what Pacquiao has been doing for the last decade on US soil, thrilling fans with his trademark attacking style that has left a trail of smeared and rearranged faces in his wake.

One of the happiest faces in attendance belonged to Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who was awed by the presence of the mainstream media and the overall huge turnout.

“One TV station even called to ask if their crew had arrived and that shows how important this event is to them,” said Arum. “We’ve held many events here at the same venue but this one has the biggest turnout.”

Arum expects the same treatment when the press tour travels to the next three cities--Las Vegas, New York and Washington--in the next three days.

source: manila bulletin