MANNY PACQUIAO and Juan Manuel Marquez are going to meet face-to-face on Jan. 15 (Jan. 16 in the Philippines) to promote their March 15 Las Vegas showdown.
Top publicist Fred Sternburg revealed yesterday that the event will likely take place at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and the big bosses of co-promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) are expected to grace the occasion alongside key people of Pacquiao and Marquez?s camps.
As this developed, Pacquiao confidant Wakee Salud said the 29-year-old Filipino hotshot was in the thick of training late yesterday afternoon at a gym owned by boxing patron Rey Golingan in General Santos City.
“Manny?s doing good,” said Salud, who watched the proceedings from the sidelines.
Salud said Pacquiao will fly to the States on Jan. 14 and will arrive there on the same day, just in time for the luncheon press conference.
Pacquiao had actually begun his training upon his arrival from a vacation in Las Vegas last Jan. 5 as he immediately worked out a sweat at the Wild Card Gym in Para?aque that is owned by his former business manager Rod Nazario.
Pacquiao and Marquez had battled to a bloody 12-round split draw the first time they rumbled in May 2004 despite Pacquiao sending Marquez down three times in the first round with his lethal left hand.
But Marquez miraculously survived the onslaught and counterpunched his way out of trouble under the guidance of the revered Mexican cornerman Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain.
Pacquiao will have in his corner the equally-respected Freddie Roach, who believes Pacquiao has improved dramatically while Marquez had stagnated the past few years.
Roach said sparring at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood will begin in early-February.
