MANNY PACQUIAO’S long-time friend and trainer Buboy Fernandez said that all is well with the champ’s preparation for his upcoming bout against archrival Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8.

“He [Pacquiao] is comfortable here,” Fernandez told The Manila Times in a phone interview. “There is less distraction and the training goes very well here. Manny is very determined to knock out Marquez.”

Fernandez did not reveal any specific strategy they would use against Marquez other than saying that the PacMan would rely on his power and blistering speed in thrashing the Mexican.

Pacquiao’s head trainer, the legendary Freddie Roach seconded Fernandez’s statement. In an interview with philboxing.com writer Rich Mazon, Roach said: “No big deal. He’ll be a couple of days late but we have eight weeks before the fight, plenty of time. I see no problems. I have to come up with a different type of strategy for Marquez. Manny understands that he needed that killer instinct back and that firepower.”

Top Rank Promotion chief Bob Arum wants Pacquiao to begin his training in the United States at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in California by October 20.

“And that people want to see knockouts and not decisions. So, Manny knows that and he promised me a knockout for the first time ever and I’m going to remind him that every day,” Roach added.

Pacquiao is expected to leave the country for United States on October 27.