JUST before Oscar Larios heads to training camp, he might end up making a short visit to Manila to drum up interest regarding his 12-round battle with Manny Pacquiao on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
As if a Pacquiao headliner needs one.
But ABS-CBN executive Peter Musngi yesterday revealed plans to bring over the heavy-handed Guadalajara, Mexico, native sometime in late-April so Filipino fight fans can familiar themselves with Pacquiao?s formidable foe.
“We would arrange that (Larios trip) through Manny?s US handlers,” said Musngi.
Larios, who Pacquiao?s chief trainer Freddie Roach said has been calling out the Filipino southpaw?s name the last two years, is a livewire opponent, Pacquiao?s manager Shelly Finkel said also yesterday during the formal launch of MP Promotions at Champagne Room of The Manila Hotel.
“Styles make fights,” said Finkel, who was joined in the dais by lawyer Nicholas Khan, Roach, Pacquiao, Manila mayor Lito Atienza, Musngi and Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, as he defended the choice of Larios as Pacquiao?s adversary.
Also on hand to throw their support to Pacquiao?s newest venture were members Team Pacquiao-Philippines beefed up by Wakee Salud from Cebu, Jake Joson, Eric and Macy Pineda, Relly de Leon, Los Angeles-based Joe Ramos, GenSan lawyer Ging Jacal and MP Promotions staffers Stella Dapayan and Joelyn dela Merced.
Even Roach believes Pacquiao cannot afford to take Larios for granted.
“He lost to one of my boxers, Israel Vazquez, on a cut and we have to train hard for this one,” said Roach, who has been with Pacquiao since mid-2001.
Roach said Pacquiao will train at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood for one month before the two of them travel to the Philippines and spend the next four weeks training in seclusion somewhere in Baguio.
