Manny Pacquiao will have the San Miguel Corp. property in Baguio practically all to himself when the Filipino boxing great, scheduled to face Mexico’s Oscar Larios on July 2, trains at the country’s summer capital.
Pacquiao is now in his hometown Gen. Santos City, resting with his family, and preparing himself for the tough, rigid training that will start sometime in May.
He will train for three weeks in the US before spending four weeks in Baguio.
Members of Team Pacquiao led by Erik Pineda will conduct an ocular inspection of the SMC property next week, and try to determine the type of equipment that are needed to be brought up to Baguio from Manila.
“First, we need a ring and then everything else that Manny needs for his training,” said Pineda.
“It’s a well-secured place. And Manny will be confined there while training. He will probably go out only when he jogs. I believe Mr. (Eduardo or Danding) Cojuangco stays there when he’s in Baguio,” said Pineda.
Pineda said they expect Larios, and the other Mexican fighters seeing action in the undercard, to fly in at least a week before the fight.
Pineda said they are looking at Diamond Hotel, Edsa Shangri-la or Crowne Plaza as possible hotels for the foreign boxers. Like Pacquiao, they don’t have to leave their hotels to train, since a ring will be set up in one of the hotel ballrooms, whichever hotel is chosen.
The Araneta Center also plans to put up a training ring at the Gateway Mall, which is just beside the Big Dome.
While Pacquiao is training, only those with proper credentials, including mediamen, will be allowed inside the Baguio property and on a very limited and restricted basis, according to Pineda.
Another SMC property in Tagaytay City was also offered as Pacquiao’s training camp, but the 27-year-old knockout artist, and his American trainer Freddie Roach, both preferred Baguio because of its higher altitude and colder weather.
The last time Pacquiao was in Manila late last month, he was weighing more or less 140 lbs. His 12-round bout with Larios, scheduled at the Araneta Coliseum, is for 130 lbs.
“No problem. Masusunog lahat yan (extra pounds) sa training,” he said.
