Pacman skips training with swollen eye

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao skipped training for the second straight day but left no reason for his chief trainer Freddie Roach to feel concerned heading to the April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao, returning to the ring following a bitter loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May last year, spent the whole day yesterday resting in his General Santos City mansion.

The 37-year-old superstar, who said he’s bidding boxing goodbye after his next fight, has been working out the past couple of weeks, the past week under Roach.

He sparred four rounds last Tuesday against Ghislain Maduma of Congo, and must have exerted too much effort trying to impress his American trainer. 

His Filipino trainer, Buboy Fernandez, said Pacquiao showed no ill effects of the shoulder injury during sparring.

It was his first sparring session in 10 months, and his body ached. He had some swelling on his right eye and also opted to stay home Wednesday.

Yesterday, Pacquiao skipped training all together, dropping his morning roadwork and afternoon gym session. He was supposed to spar against Maduma.

“Nothing serious about it. Nothing to worry about,” Roach told Philboxing.com.

Pacquiao’s information officer said the swelling on Pacquiao’s eye may have nothing to do with last Tuesday’s sparring.

The swelling, he said, may have been caused by something that got into Pacquiao’s eye the other day.

“He decided to rest today (Thursday) and coach Freddie gave him time to rest,” the Pacquiao lieutenant said.

Paccquiao’s ring adviser, Mike Koncz, said there’s no definite date yet on Pacquiao’s trip to Los Angeles where he would resume his training.

Roach wants Pacquiao to leave on March 5 but the boxer is hoping he could stretch his days in the Philippines and fly to the US on March 15 instead.