HOURS before his scheduled flight to Los Angeles, boxing star Manny Pacquiao was attending a big-time 5-cock derby at the Makati Coliseum. Which just about shows how disdainfully he is treating the boxing abilities of his Mexican foe.
“Manny’s here,” said one of his handlers, telling the caller that the boxer who was hours from boarding his plane, was at the cockpit perhaps doing some last-minute betting though it could not be confirmed if his Super Pacman breed of gamebirds was entered in the cockfest.
Pacquiao and Los Angeles-based adviser Jo Ramos were booked on the 10 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles last night as the Filipino southpaw is expected to report for training at the Wild Card Boxing Club of Freddie Roach in Hollywood on Tuesday.
Pacquiao, however, does not plan to stay US for a long time as the same handler confirmed reports that the General Santos City native plans to return to Manila on June 3, which is about a month before his scheduled brawl with Mexican Oscar Larios at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pacquiao had earlier been booked to fly to the US on May 5, then it was changed to May 13.
With his various non-ring activities, Pacquiao definitely hasn’t been paying too much attention on Larios, who is an overwhelming underdog.
His mind, apparently is in the post-Larios fights his handlers have scheduled for him. And these include a rubber match with Morales will be held in October or November, followed by a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera tentatively in March 2007.
Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao Promotions yesterday unveiled an 80-round card in the l2-round showdown with Larios on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. Filipino matchmaker Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud described the showdown as “a boxing menu fit for the ‘masa’ and the rich.”
A pair of six-rounders will have Roel Laguna against Dodie Boy Agravio while Ritchie Metranum of Gensan fights Efren Huertas, also of Manila.
This is followed by a pair of eight-rounders, pitting North Cotabato’s Glenn Porras, a prot?g?e of Gov. Manny Pinol, against Cebu’s Jerope Jopar Mercado. Completing the supporting card is the match between GenSan’s Ernel Fontanilla against Ariel Delgado, the pride of Manila.
Four 10-rounders will have the full force of the ‘Pilipinas contra Mexico’ matches in the card.
Gerry Penalosa is taking on Garson Guerrero in the first 10-rounder, followed by the Jimrex Jaca versus Adrian Valdez and Rey ‘Boom Boom Bautista against Alejandro Felix Montiel.
Randy “Kumong Bato” Suico brings up the rear in his fight against Silverio Ortiz.
