After four weeks of conditioning in the Philippines and six weeks of hard training at world-famous Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Cub in Hollywood, California, eight-division world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao concluded his training camp on Monday and drove to Las Vegas to begin his fight week festivities.
This Saturday, he will challenge WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás in a battle that will headline a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View main event, live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
So what can Ugás expect when he faces amazin’ Manny? Hall of Fame trainer and boxing analyst Teddy Atlas had a front row seat on April 9, 2016, when he manned two-division world champion Timothy Bradley’s corner as head trainer in the rubber match of the Manny-Bradley welterweight trilogy. Manny served up two knockdowns to the fellow future Hall of Famer Bradley, en route to a unanimous decision victory. It would be the final fight of Bradley’s illustrious career and Manny would be the only man to defeat him professionally.
Here’s what Atlas had to say:
“We all know that saying; everyone has a plan until you hit them in the mouth. But with Manny, it’s more like, until you hit that hornets’ nest, and Manny is literally everywhere. Tim was great. But legends sting.
“When I evaluate a fighter, I look for dimensions, and Manny is like watching 3D where everything comes at you fast and from all directions. That’s the greatness of Manny, his combination of speed and power along with special instincts and a will to win. He’s never forgotten what he didn’t have, and he fights like he’s still looking for it.
“You can look at Manny Pacquiao as a Force of Nature. Like the ocean, he pulls you into counters, then pushes you back, catching you in retreat. The tide moving a piece of driftwood. His legs are the beach giving him the ability to strand opponents in space, while his hands crash like waves. I’ve seen it up close. And it’s no day at the beach.”