Pacquiao here in final run-up to duel

Again, weather permitting, Manny Pacquiao is set to arrive in Manila from Davao today along with his American trainer Freddie Roach for the final push leading to his scheduled 12-round bout against Thailand’s Fahsan 3K Battery on Dec. 11 in Taguig.

The Filipino boxing sensation was originally scheduled to fly in last Thursday but had to stretch his month-long training in Davao due to the string of typhoons that hit the country recently.

Pacquiao, Roach and the rest of the enourage will be in Manila before noon.

Pacquiao’s business-manager, Rod Nazario, yesterday gave The STAR a page of his ward’s busy schedule heading into the non-title bout against the Thai slugger who arrives Monday from Bangkok for the fight of his life.

After a long day of training until Monday, the two fighters will stage a fight preview 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Nazario-owned Wild Card Gym on Presidents Ave. in BF Homes, Parañaque. It will mark Pacquiao’s final sparring session for the fight.

"No more sparring after that but things will go on just the same. There’ll be road and gym work," said Nazario, adding that a press conference has been lined up either on Wednesday or Thursday at the Discovery Suites along Ortigas.

The official weigh-in for the 126-lb non-title fight is scheduled Friday at 10:30 in the morning at the Pier One bar and restaurant at The Fort in Taguig where the fight, which is expected to draw a big crowd, will be held in an open-air venue.

Pacquiao is not expected to have any difficulty making the weight since he’s just a couple of pounds over it with a full week left before fight night. Fahsan is also tipped to be in top condition in his bid to conquer the Filipino champion before his countrymen.

Pacquiao started training in Davao early last month and was joined by Roach two weeks ago. The 2003 Trainer of the Year flew in despite the fact that one of his wards, Fil-American Brian Villoria, had a scheduled bout in the US today.

Pacquiao stands to receive close to P17 million for the coming fight which will serve as his final tunep for his Feb. 26 match with reigning IBF and WBA featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico either in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

"Tuloy na ‘yang laban na ‘yan. Nagpirmahan na kami diyan eh last November pa. Hindi na lang matutuloy ‘yan kung magkakasakit ang isa sa kanila," said Nazario amid reports that Pacquiao is willing to skip the fight and meet Marco Antonio Barrera instead.

Barrera, who was demolished by Pacquiao last year in Texas, took the WBC featherweight title from former champion and fellow Mexican Eric Morales last week at the MGM Grand via a majority decision.

But Barrera immediately said no to Pacquiao, adding that the Filipino should instead face reigning WBC super-bantamweight champion Oscar Larios before facing him.

"Well, talagang ganyan. Eh, ikaw ba naman ang mabugbog ng ganoon eh," said Nazario, referring to the Pacquiao-Barrera fight where the Mexican was pounded into submission after 11 rounds.

"Talagang iiwas muna kay Manny ‘yan. Gagawa muna ng pera ‘yan. But I’m sure, magkikita din silang dalawa," he said.