Fortune: Pacquiao no longer has cramps

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s camp claimed the Filipino icon no longer suffers from leg cramps.

Justin Fortune, Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, told Eddie Alinea of Philboxing.com that the fighting congressman’s cramps have healed.

“Yeah, I know the media had feasted on this perceived serious injury on Manny’s calf, but I’m sorry to inform your misinformed colleagues that it’s completely healed and Manny had had a hell of a day performing his agility test this morning at UCLA [University of California-Los Angeles] track oval,” Fortune said.

“We’ve just turned a page in Manny’s training regimen and next week we will be going into the next page of the program. Meaning Manny had just passed the toughest test in his conditioning phase of preparations and he’s ready to proceed to the lighter and easier routine,” he added.

Pacquiao’s recent bout with cramps has been reported last week, with trainer Freddie Roach saying that they’re doing everything they can to address the issue. It is somewhat a cause for concern heading into Pacquiao’s showdown with Floyd Mayweather on May 2.

News of Pacquiao’s calf problems reached the camp of Mayweather, with Floyd Sr. revealing that it could alter his son’s tactics against Pacquiao.

But Fortune insists the problem is gone.

“Manny knows that [the cramps are gone] and he’s very happy. He showed it when he, as usual gave all – out in his exercises, including the 32-kilometer sprint around the oval and another fast-phase climb from the bottom of the bleacher to the top,” Fortune continued.

Roach, for his part, agreed with his lieutenant, pointing out how Pacquiao demanded for more rounds on the mitts.

 “I wanted him [Pacquiao] to only work 10 rounds because the 12-round routine is still scheduled next week, but he insisted on 12 rounds so I gave him that,” Roach said. “No man with calf injury as people say can do what he’s been doing the past weeks or two.” – Dino Maragay