THEY sat beside each other, shared a few laughs and even shook hands as if they were being presented to the media to kick off a concert tour.
At yesterday?s press conference, Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Oscar Larios appeared to be chums, and not rivals who, in 48 hours, would be programmed mentally and physically to knock each other?s heads off at the Araneta Coliseum.
Pacquiao, who arrived at the 22nd floor of the Discovery Suites from The Manila Hotel, where the Filipino puncher has been staying since June 20, expressed his excitement over the prospect of locking horns with Larios and declined to say how long the scheduled 12-rounder would last.
“Basta I am excited to fight,” said Pacquiao, who is so favored to win that the betting line no longer says who among the two would win, but in what round Pacquiao will knock Larios out.
The fighting words were provided by Pacquiao?s US handlers who believe that Larios would not hear the final bell.
“Manny is going to treat him so well by ending the fight early,” said Shelly Finkel after hearing from Larios? agent, Mexican Rafael Mendoza, of how the Filipinos have been treating them and showing their hospitality wherever they go.
Larios was a bit more daring in his assessment and he made it clear that he did not travel more than 10,000 miles from Guadalajara to lose.
“Beating Pacquiao is not impossible,” said Larios through Golden Boy Promotions Eric Gomez, whose outfit represents the 29-year-old visitor. “I am not even nervous and it doesn?t matter if this fight takes place in Las Vegas, Mexico or here in the Philippines.”
“I know this is a tough fight, but I am thinking of a win,” added Larios, who stands an inch taller than the 5-6 Pacquiao.
Roach stood in his earlier prediction that the fight is not going past six rounds although he made it clear that they?re not looking past Larios.
“There is no future if we don?t win this fight,” said Roach, the rubber match between Pacquiao and Erik Morales set for Nov. 18 in Las Vegas on his mind.
“Morales is at the back of my mind and Larios on the front,” added Roach, who revealed that Pacquiao would be staying at his Aguinaldo Suite at The Manila Hotel until the day of the fight since moving out with a couple of days remaining might alter the boxer?s sleeping habits and it could mess up his state of mind.
The remaining days before D-Day is going to be crucial and Pacquiao advised his American security officer Rob Peters that his early-afternoon training be held behind closed doors without anyone from the media getting a glimpse of his workout.
“Manny was affected by the media rush during the press conference,” Peters said as he stood guard at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gym where Pacquiao and his trainers and managers proceeded after attending the media event at the Discovery Suites.
Pacquiao will hold his last workout this morning as he prepares for the official weighin tomorrow morning at the Discovery Suites. Just before daybreak, Roach will join Pacquiao in the roadwork around the Quirino Grandstand.
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NOTES:
l Bob Sheridan, a veteran of more than 800 big-time TV boxing broadcasts, and Dave Bontempo, are going to provide the blow-by-blow and color commentary for the US broadcast from ringside at the Big Dome. Sheridan, known in boxing circles as “The Colonel,” was here 31 years ago during the Ali and Frazier Thrilla in Manila.
l Ring announcer Michael Buffer did not arrive as scheduled because he missed his flight in Los Angeles. The man with the booming voice will instead plane in this morning and there should be sightings of him during Saturday morning?s official weigh in at the Discovery Suites.
l Bruce McTavish, a New Zealander who has been residing in the country the last 30 years, will be the third man on the ring for the Pacquiao-Larios match, while the three judges are Daniel van de Wiele of Belgium, Humbert Furgoni of France and Noparat Sricharoen of Thailand.
