He may be in his opponent’s homeland but Mexican boxing champion Oscar Larios is undaunted by the task of facing World Boxing Council international superfeatherweight champion Manny Pacquiao come July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“I’m not afraid of him and I’m happy to fight him. He’s the best fighter nowadays, I want to fight with the best,” said Larios through an interpreter during a guest appearance at Magandang Umaga Pilipinas Thursday morning.
Larios said he hopes to knock Pacquiao down. “If I win by decision, it’s okay,” he added.
Edison Reynoso, his trainer, said they are now analyzing Pacquiao’s past fights before devising a strategy to beat the Filipino champion.
Larios arrived in Manila Wednesday and will be staying in the country for three days to hype up his July 2 bout with Pacquiao at the Big Dome.
Following his promotion of the fight, Larios will return to Guadalajara this weekend to start training.
Larios, a former WBC bantamweight champion, stands to earn $450,000 while Pacquiao is expected to get $1 million, as he stakes his international superfeatherweight belt.