Pacquiao's recurring calf cramps causing concern
LOS ANGELES — The curious case of Manny Pacquiao's calf muscles took another twist last weekend, when the Filipino boxer missed his routine morning roadwork session a little more than a month out from his May 2 mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather.
With his regular running partners having assembled outside his Hancock Park house just after 6 a.m. on Saturday, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune arriving soon after, and a throng of excited fans waiting a few miles down the road at Pan Pacific Park, word soon filtered out that the 36-year-old would be a no-show.
"Manny won't run today," Fortune said. "It is not the end of the world, but we do it for a reason."
Trainer Freddie Roach sparked some concerns earlier last week by admitting that Pacquiao had been suffering from cramps in his legs, claiming they were being treated by a combination of massage and a special cream that costs $1,800 per bottle.
Meanwhile Fortune, a no-nonsense Australian whose own boxing career saw him battle heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 1995, has a vital role to play in Team Pacquiao that goes beyond simple drills and exercises.
As well as leading him through advanced plyometric routines, Fortune must also analyze Pacquiao's mind, to see if his reluctance to train, like on Saturday, is lethargy, tiredness from his grueling physical sessions, or something more serious.
"I would like him to get up and move around at least, get out the stiffness from the work we have been doing," Fortune told USA Today Sports. "He is not going to run, but we will make up for it with the work we do later.
"I make it hard for him but he needs to suck it up. Fighting Mayweather is not easy, either. There are always consequences."
The gravity of the Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, with the bout expected to reward each man to the tune of more than $100 million, means that every scrap of information about the preparation process is closely scrutinized.
Pacquiao's calves are a particular point of focus, as he has suffered discomfort in that region of his body for the past several years.
While he is motivated to cause a significant upset and hand Mayweather his first defeat as a professional, there is also a danger of over-training.
Running partner Rodel Mayol, a former WBC light flyweight world champion, insisted Pacquiao's old "hunger" had returned and that until Saturday, his runs had been full of spirit and intensity.
"For this fight it is amazing," Mayol said. "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's sparring sessions and his workouts with Fortune scheduled to increase in intensity, all eyes will be on the Filipino star's much-discussed calves, to see if they have any bearing on the outcome of May's big showdown.
Follow Martin Rogers on Twitter @mrogersUSAT.
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