Larios due next month to promote Pacquiao bout

Former world champion Oscar Larios of Mexico will come to Manila by the end of next month to help promote his coming fight against Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao.

According to Team Pacquiao insider Erik Pineda, they plan to bring Larios over on the last week of April for a couple of functions in line with forthcoming 12-round, non-title bout.

The fight is scheduled July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. It will be held at 11 a.m. so boxing fans in the US can catch it on television on a Saturday evening.

The 130 lb contest, to be aired live by ABS-CBN, was formally announced yesterday during a press conference at the Champagne Room of the Manila Hotel.

Pacquiao sat at the presidential table along with his American manager Shelly Finkel, lawyer Nicholas Khan and trainer Freddie Roach.

"Masayang masaya ako na dito sa atin magaganap ang fight ko. Noon ko pa ito gusto. Excited ako sa laban na ito," said Pacquiao, who came with his pregnant wife Jinkee.

Also seeing action July 2 are Filipino fighters Gerry Penalosa, Randy Suico, Ray "Boom Boom" Bautista and Jimrex Jaca. They will also face Mexicans, with Suico going up against Hector Velasquez, whom Pacquiao knocked out in Los Angeles last September.

The Americans fielded different questions regarding the fight but were one in saying that it’s going to be a tough, exciting fight between two great fighters.

"We’re expecting the best Larios possible. Manny knows this and he’s going to do the training regimen that’s necessary to beat anyone — not just Larios," said Finkel.

Larios was the former world champion in the 122 lb division where he’s now having great difficulty making the weight. Finkel said Larios would be more comfortable at 130.

"He’ll be a lot better at 130 lbs," added Finkel, who flew home last night with Khan after arriving Friday morning. Roach stayed behind and will fly home tomorrow.

Finkel said Larios is getting "his biggest paycheck ever" for the fight. Sources said the Mexican gets $450,000, and Pacquiao probably no less than $1 million.

"A big fight is underway. We’ll train hard for this fight and make Manny just better and better. Larios is a very interesting fight," said the American trainer.

Finkel said Pacquiao might face Erik Morales in a third match either in October or November as long as the Mexican boxer agrees to fight at 130 lbs as stated in the contract.

"If Morales doesn’t want to fight at 130 then we’re not going to fight him. If that happens we go to (Marco Antonio) Barrera," said Finkel, referring to the reigning WBC 130 lb champion.

Finkel said as soon as he returns to the US, he will try to put some pressure on the Morales camp and make them decide whether or not they’re ready to face Pacquiao at 130 lbs.

Pacquiao will also help promote his coming fight in the US. He’ll be in Las Vegas on May 6 to watch his younger brother Bobby fight Joan "Little Tyson" Guzman under the Oscar dela Hoya-Ricardo Mayorga showdown at the MGM Grand.