After 31 years, the historic Araneta Coliseum of Manila, Philippines, will be host again of a first class boxing event on Saturday July 1st (Sunday July 2nd in Manila) when local hero Manny Pacquiao (41-3-2, 32 KOs) faces Mexican warrior Oscar “Chololo” Larios (56-4-1, 36 KOs). In the clash, named “Mano a Mano,” the international WBC super featherweight title will be at the stake. “I’m very happy to have the chance to combat in my country and I will give you my best to make my people happy,” said the Philippines’ most famous star. “I don’t usually make predictions and I know that Larios won’t be easy, but I know I will beat him. This is my time,” declared ‘Pacman’ today in Los Angeles.
If Pacquiao beats Larios, he will face Erik Morales for the third time on October 7th, in Las Vegas. But Larios wants to abort the Pacquiao’s plans. “If I win next July 1st, I’m sure that Marco Antonio Barrera, Morales or Juan Manuel Marquez would want to fight me. I know that nobody considers me like a true 130-pound star, but I will demonstrate that a I’m ready for a big fight.”
Both Larios and Pacquiao ate quite a lot during the press luncheon, and “Chololo” explains: “Now I can eat normally, because in my entire career I trained to make weight. Now, for the first time, I will fight at my real natural weight, the super featherweight division.” Larios says that he is at 63 kilograms (138.8 lbs.) right now and he and his team will travel to Japan on June 2nd to acclimate. They will then go to the Philippines a week before the fight.
The “Mano a Mano” fight will be televised live on PPV in the United States with a suggested price of U$ 39.99.
