At the budding age of 36, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao may have to deal with more than just Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 with reports that the boxing icon is trying to remedy the dreaded issue of leg cramps, which has bothered him through his boxing career.
With the power of his punches drawing power from his lower legs, leg cramps have become a problem. Apparently the leg cramp issue has been affecting his calves and as such could become an issue during his training and once he steps into the ring against the undefeated Mayweather on May 2.
So how is Pacquiao trying to address the issue? Well for now, Pacquiao and his camp are resorting to the usual massages to fend off cramps.
Aside from that, the Filipino is also reportedly applying a special anti-inflammatory cream which reportedly costs $1,800 a pop. The cost for getting the prescription anti-inflammatory cream costs so much since Pacquiao doesn't have U.S. insurance and so has to pay a premium price for the ointment.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach was reportedly weary to use the cream and went as far as consulting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency before he allowed Pacquiao to use it.
Other than the leg cramps issue, Roach has come up with an alternative running regimen for Pacquiao. The said regimen is a fast sprint-type workout, something Roach says is better for older boxers over the usual hill workouts.
Before, Pacquiao would run up hills six days a week but apparently Roach deemed it necessary to do away with that and substitute it with the new running technique.
For now, it seems that Roach and Pacquiao are trying to address the legs of the Filipino boxer. It is no secret that Pacquiao may find himself trying to chase down Mayweather on May 2 in what is seen to be a cat-and-mouse fight. No knockouts are being forecasted for now and many believe that this mega bout will ultimately be decided via a judges' scorecard decision.
