WHILE MANNY Pacquiao was belting out the newest cut from his album, Mexican Oscar Larios was probably catching up on his sleep at his plush room at the Discovery Suites yesterday afternoon as the two fighters took different tacks to relaxation heading into the final days of their Sunday encounter at the Araneta Coliseum.
Larios and his agent Rafael Mendoza and trainers Jose and Edison Reynoso, were reportedly not amused by the lengthy presentation made by television giant ABS-CBN when it presented the Mexican to the press. Larios’ entourage got so impatient, they left long long before the three-hour show had ended.
ABS-CBN is bankrolling the entire promotions reportedly to the tune of $ 4 million (about P208 million).
But before Team Larios left the venue, the Mexican strutted his stuff by shadow-boxing and hitting the mitts to the delight of the spectators most of whom shelled out a few hundred pesos to witness the public-press preview.
While Pacquiao’s mood was light and bubbly, it did not mean he was taking Larios for granted.
When it was his turn to work out, Pacquiao flexed just enough muscles in dealing with Russian sparmate, lightweight Rustam Nugaev and he was splendid when he worked the mitts with American trainer Freddie Roach.
He slammed Roach’s blue mitts with left straights, hooks and uppercuts and the sound of the gloves hitting the leather was music to most people’s ears.
“We are ready for 12 rounds, but I still think the fight is not going past six rounds,” said Roach, who will supervise a light workout today at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gym after an early-morning run around Luneta if the weather permits.
Larios is also heading to the gym today, preferably at the Elorde Gym at the Ortigas Center.
Those seeing action in the undercard were also there with ex-world super-flyweight king Gerry Penalosa leading the way. Also fighting are super-featherweight Jimrex Jaca and lightweight Dennis Laurente, who clashes with Nugaev.
A notable absentee during the affair was Cebu-based junior-feather Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, who is keenly awaiting the advice of his doctor in Cebu if he will be allowed to fight Mexican Alejandro Montiel.
“We will know tomorrow (today) if Rey will fight,” said his promoter Sammy “Penrex King” Gello-ani.
Bautista, the 19-year-old sensation who is being groomed to follow the footsteps of Pacquiao, is down with the flu.
In the event Bautista decides to pull out, stablemate Michael Domingo will be hired to battle Montiel.
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NOTES: Reporters who will cover Sunday morning’s slugfest ought to bring not only their pens, notepads and tape recorders, but a pair of binoculars since they would all be watching the action from the Upper Box section-A, an arrangement that’s totally new since ringside seats for the press are always reserved regardless of the magnitude of a promotion here and abroad. Organizers have only allotted ten seats for photographers from the wire services and leading dailies. Seats just a few feet away from the ring are priced at R50,000 and those are better sold than given away. In the epic 1975 Thrilla in Manila between Ali and Frazier, writers, both foreign and local, were given ringside seats. Reli de Leon, executive officer of MP Promotions, promised to remedy the problem.
The trunks of Manny Pacquiao will be worth between R5 million to R7 million, according to a member of the fighter’s entourage. Just like in the Morales fight, the logos of his sponsors and backers will be emblazoned on his trunks.
