WASHINGTON, D.C.: Manny Pacquiao will embark on an eight-week training camp starting the third week of this month to prepare for his big fight against three-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
Pacquiao aims for a record-setting eighth world title when he takes on the bigger Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight (154 pounds) title at a catch weight of 151 pounds.
Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach said that four to five weeks of the training will be in the Philippines and the rest will be at his famous Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
The training proper will likely start on the 20th, Roach said by phone from his gym, but he hoped to firm up the scheduled and location during a meeting with Pacquiao on Sunday (Monday in Manila) on the eve of his return flight to Manila.
He added that he prefers the training camp in Baguio City to insulate Pacquiao, a first-term congressman of Sarangani, from distractions that could upset his preparation for what could one of his toughest fights ever.
?Not that I anticipate any problem with Manny?s training,? Roach said. ?I have never had a fighter who trained harder than Manny does, but I want him to train in a place where there will be less distractions from fans and others who want a piece of him.?
Pacquiao initially had suggested training in Metro Manila, but Roach thinks Baguio City would be an ideal place because of its high altitude and mild weather.
During a separate interview, strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza said that he is scheduled to leave ahead of Roach on September 10 to start the physical conditioning of Pacquiao, who last fought in March in a lopsided unanimous decision win over Ghanian Joshua Clottey to defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
Eight weeks ?Manny has done remarkably well with eight weeks in training camp in most of his major fights,? Ariza said. ?Manny stays in shape in between fights and he trains really hard in camp, so eight weeks is all he needs.? Ariza recalled that Pacquiao worked out for eight weeks for his last three fights against Clottey, Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton.
?He trained 10 weeks for Oscar De La Hoya, but all his subsequent training camps were for eight weeks,? said the conditioning coach, who has worked with Team Pacquiao since his second fight against Erik Morales of Mexico in January 2006.
He and Roach said that they were not worried about the physical advantages of Margarito, who at 5?11? enjoys a four-and-a-half inch height advantage and longer wingspan over Pacquiao.
?Pacquiao?s used to fighting bigger guys?De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and Clottey?so we?re not really worried about Margarito,? Ariza said.
Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since he started fighting in the United States in mid-2001, assured Pacquiao would be in top shape for his showdown with Margarito on November 13.
?Tell the fans Manny will be ready, I promise you that,? he added.
