CEBU KINGMAKER Wakee Salud is lining up lightweight hard-hitter Randy Suico as a test sparmate prior to Pacquiao?s departure for the US on Jan. 15.
“I was hoping to bring Manny here in Cebu to work out with Randy (Suico) even for a week so by the time he reports for training at the Wild Card, he would be in pretty good shape because once he gets there (Wild Card), it?s going to be all business,” Salud said.
Wild Card guru Freddie Roach said in an interview before he went back to Los Angeles late last week that he has tapped three sparring partners for Pacquiao, who will face Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15, 2008 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
“I am getting new sparring partners for Manny and we are going to work very hard in the gym,” Roach, who plans to devote the first two weeks of training camp on building up the 29-year-old Pacquiao?s conditioning, bared.
“We won?t begin sparring until after two weeks,” Roach, who spent almost two weeks in the country with the boxing icon, added.
Roach said Pacquiao had agreed to fly to the US on Jan. 15 although there are some quarters who doubt whether it would indeed push through owing to the slugger?s various business and showbiz commitments.
Pacquiao is currently in Las Vegas with wife Jinkee and kids Emmanuel Jr., Michael Stephen and Mary Divine Grace for an extended vacation. They are scheduled to return on Jan. 5.
If Pacquiao gets past Marquez, Top rank big boss Bob Arum will likely pair him with reigning World Boxing Council lightweight ruler David Diaz sometime in June or July.
And should Pacquiao topple Diaz, he will next challenge British puncher Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs sometime in November.
Marquez, meanwhile, has kicked off his preparations for the much-awaited second meeting between the last Mexican standing and the pride and joy of the Filipino people.
Before he left for the States, Pacquiao said in a TV interview that he welcomed Marquez?s desire to fight him.
“That?s good because that would only mean that we will have a great fight on March 15,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao and Marquez had battled to a 12-round split draw in May 2004 with Marquez falling thrice in the first round and rebounding strongly afterwards with superb counter-punching.
