Pacquiao may face Larios next

Manny Pacquiao may take on former world champion Oscar Larios or another Mexican fighter in May here as part of his tune-up for a third match with Erik Morales in September in Las Vegas.

When Fightnews contacted Pacquiao over the weekend, the Filipino boxing icon revealed that it looks like Larios will be coming over to Manila to test him in a brawl.

In case talks for the Pacquiao-Larios duel bog down, Javier Jauregui, another former world titlist, may be lined up against the Filipino champion, according to Latinoboxing.com.

Pacquiao is priming up for a third fight with Morales following his sensational 10th round knockout of the Mexican former three-time world champion over three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao yesterday signed a contract with San Miguel Corp. that makes the Pacman not only as official endorser but also a business partner of the giant food and beverage conglomerate.

"This agreement is in recognition of an excellent athlete who deserves recognition and reward for making our country proud and putting back the Philippines in the world map," said Ramon Ang, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp.

"I’d like to thank San Miguel for giving me this opportunity," said Pacquiao in Filipino even as he eluded questions concerning his personal life following reports that he was being sued for child support by a former girlfriend.

Pacquiao, who won over Morales via a 10th round stoppage last month in Las Vegas, Nevada, is actually an endorser of two SMC-owned brands — Purefoods and Ginebra San Miguel.

This time he’ll be endorsing all SMC products from beer, hard liquor, beverages, and food products through a nationwide campaign. The Filipino champ will not only appear in television commercials, posters and billboards but will also tour the whole country and the Asia-Pacific region to promote San Miguel products.

The Gensan sensation, in turn, becomes a business franchisee of San Miguel, which means all his personal business ventures including concerts, movies and other promotional activities as a singer, actor, performer and boxer will be supported by Southeast Asia’s largest conglomerate.

SMC will also provide marketing and distribution assistance to Pacquiao’s "MP" product lines–t-shirts, bags and apparels included.

San Miguel will also support Pacquiao’s future fights aside from life insurance coverage and boxing clinic videos to promote boxing as a sport.