US trainer for Pacquiao

A hard-nosed American trainer from Los AngelEs promoter Don Chargin’s stable awaits World Boxing Council (WBC) International superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s arrival in a Concorde, California gym owned by Oakland A’s baseball team owner Ken Hoffman and real estate broker Bill Sanford.

San Francisco lawyer Sydney Jay Hall flew into town a few days ago to finalize Pacquiao’s trip to the US with business manager Rod Nazario. Hall is arranging accommodations and training facilities for Pacquiao who leaves with Nazario on May 17.

Hall’s plan is for Pacquiao to hone his skills under Terry Lee who trains such prospects as Julio Gonzales and Max Heyman then make his US debut in an ESPN TV main event for a purse of at least $15,000 at the San Francisco Civic Center in September.

Hall said it’s not realistic to imagine WBC superbantamweight titlist Willie Jorrin defending his crown against Pacquiao here because TV brokers wouldn’t agree. Besides, Hall continued, there’s too much interest in a trilogy involving Jorrin, World Boxing Association (WBA) junior featherweight champion Bones Adams, and No. 1 contender Michael Brodie of England.

"The 122-pound division is one of the most lucrative in the game today," he said. "The Jorrin-Brodie fight on June 1 is off because Brodie is supposed to be injured but I think it was cancelled because TV held back. I heard Bebot Elorde offered Chargin a $150,000 purse for Jorrin to fight Manny in Manila but was turned down. TV isn’t interested in a world title fight in Manila because the money’s in the US."

Hall said Pacquiao shouldn’t be rushed into the fight. "First, he’s got to be in shape then we’ve got to build up his name," he said. "We’ve got to dig deep into our pockets in the first few months while we introduce him to the US market."

Hall invited Pacquiao and Nazario to watch the blockbuster May 22 card on Pier 32 at the San Francisco waterfront. Former World Boxing Federation featherweight champion Orlando Villaflor makes his US debut against Luis Lizarraga in the bill which will feature Muay Thai bouts, a boxing gear fashion show, live bands, and "provocative" models. Villaflor flew to the US last March and has been training in Roy Jones’ camp in Pensacola.

Vernie Torres and Jerry Balagbagan, two Filipino fighters whom Hall brought to campaign in the US, will be at ringside for the Villaflor fight.