Somebody better tell Oscar Larios to pull out of the July 2 face-off with Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is so overwhelmingly favored to win that Mexican might begin thinking of ways on how to conceal a deadly weapon in his trunks if he insist on engaging Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum.
Filipino ringsiders have voiced out their opinion concerning the Big Dome battle with Pacquiao earning the nod of Cebu promoter Tony Aldeguer, Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Noli Flores, GenSan boxing patron Rey Golingan, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, TV boxing program producer Gerry Garcia, matchmaker Felixberto Jardenil, boxing managers Liza Elorde and Aljoe Jaro and lawyer-boxing buff Ed Tolentino.
“If Manny is in terrific shape, I will pick Manny because of his power and speed,” said Aldeguer, who refused to say how many rounds would it take for Pacquiao to take the sting out of the long-armed Guadalajara native.
“But it’s going to be a hard fight because I believe that Larios has the style that can offset Pacquiao and he also has endurance,” added Aldeguer.
Jaro, whose stable in Binangonan, Rizal, has a couple of rising stars in Florante Condes and super-bantam Benjie Concepcion, opined that while Pacquiao is the huge betting favorite, Larios remains a dangerous foe and is the type not to take lightly.
“Larios is not yet over the hill and he has faced quality opposition,” said Jaro. “Still, if Manny is in shape, there would be no problem in the end although it’s going to be tough.”
