One of Manny Pacquiao’s Filipino handlers on Tuesday confirmed that the fighter is inclined to train for his July 2 fight against Oscar Larios in Baguio City rather than in the United States as earlier planned.
“Manny really wants to stay here and train in Baguio City because he believes he will have lesser distractions here,” Eric Pineda, one of the key men behind Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said.
“And should Pacquiao decide to begin his intensive preparations in Baguio City, you can expect Freddie Roach will be right there with him,” added Pineda, referring to the boxer’s American trainer.
Roach was quoted in earlier news reports as saying that he preferred his ward to spend at least three to four weeks of training at his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles before returning to the country sometime in June for the final stages of the boxer’s buildup.
“When Manny comes back from the US, Roach will also be returning with us,” said Pineda, who will leave with the Filipino ring warrior on May to the US for a short promotional tour of the fight dubbed “Mano a Mano.”
Pineda said “PacMan” will also be in Mexico pitching the fight with Larios, who is arriving in the country early Thursday to do the same thing on Friday in a press conference organized by the fight’s copromoter ABS-CBN.
Larios is expected to arrive with manager Jose Reynoso. Roach is also scheduled to arrive for the press conference.
Pineda said the Baguio City training camp was “ideal” for Pacquiao.
He cited the sprawling San Miguel Corp. property where the boxer will be based and the Amateur Boxing Association Philippines gym where Pacquiao will do most of his ringwork and sparring.
“Pacquiao’s schedule in the US is fluid. We might be staying there a week at most. And we expect him to do only light roadwork. But it is still up to Manny [if he decides to train there],” Pineda said.
“The intensive training will really begin when Manny comes back and does his buildup in Baguio City,” he said.
Pineda also disclosed that they were still researching the law that will allow the purses in the July 2 program from being exempt from taxes.
“It is an old law, but we have the help of the Games and Amusements Board boxing people researching it for us,” Pineda said.
A former World Boxing Council bantamweight champion, Larios will earn $450,000 while Pacquiao is expected to get $1 million, as he stakes his WBC International super featherweight belt.
