An insider from the camp of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao announced that the former pound-for-pound king is in good health and is not suffering from any serious disease.

“Personally, I was surprised to hear that news but that’s nothing. He is physically fine and there is nothing to worry about his health,” Pacquiao’s long-time lawyer Franklin Gacal told The Manila
Times in a telephone interview. Gacal is responding to the statement of physician Rustico Jimenez, the president of Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, saying that Pacquiao’s stuttering and hand twitching could be early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The ailment, which is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system commonly afflicts boxers. Some of the most famous pugs suffering from Parkinson’s disease are Muhammad Ali and Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach.

Gacal said that Pacquiao told him that he is OK and doesn’t feel any discomfort since his sixth round knockout loss against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez last month. The champ is currently on vacation in Israel with his family.

Gacal also stressed that Pacquiao has no connection whatsoever with Jimenez.

“Manny has his own doctors and we don’t care about his own [Jimenez’s] medical opinion.

Manny was checked by specialists in the US also and everything is fine. At the same time, he will undergo more tests but we are confident there’s nothing to worry and he can still fight,” Gacal said.

The lawyer added that he doubt if Pacquiao would take seriously Jimenez’s opinion, “I’m sure Manny will not entertain his [Jimenez’s] personal point of view.”

 Pacquiao is expected to fight again in September possibly against Marquez for the fifth time.