A team from top cable network HBO is coming over to cover Manny Pacquiao’s training in Cebu where fight fans have practically swarmed the flamboyant boxer over the last four days.
A separate team from HBO will fly to Mexico to take footages of Marco Antonio Barrera’s training. The materials will be used for the TV primers aimed at promoting the Oct. 6 fight between the two boxers.
The fight set at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas will be carried by HBO on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao did eight rounds of mitts with Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez yesterday at the Rex “Wakee” Salud Gym. Once again, fans swamped the gym, which has been declared “off-limits” from Monday to Friday.
Rico Arce of Solar Entertainment’s pay-per-view division said the HBO team will probably arrive next week from the US, and head straight to Cebu.
Pacquiao will train in Cebu until he and his team leaves for Los Angeles on Sept. 22 or two weeks before the fight.
Salud, a Pacquiao associate, said arrangements like hotel bookings and car rentals are now being made in behalf of the HBO team.
“Manny’s decision to do the bulk of his training in Cebu is the reason why the HBO people are coming over. They had expected all along that Pacquiao will train in LA,” said Arce.
Salud said his gym has been swamped with Pacquiao fans over the last four days, and Roach has decided to shield his boxer by opening it to fans only on Saturdays.
“Only selective guests are being allowed in. Barangay officials have offered to help contain the crowd,” said Salud.
“This is the first time Pacquiao is in Cebu training for a big fight, and they all want to get a glimpse of Pacquiao even when he runs in the morning,” he added.
“Kapag Sabado puwede sila manood (They can watch me on Saturdays),” said Pacquiao, who only runs, but does not go to the gym on Sundays, unless he wants to.
Pacquiao’s chief-of-staff, Jake Joson, said he makes it a point that visitors are out of Pacquiao’s hotel room by 8 p.m.
“It’s Manny himself who wants us out early. Freddie’s room is just beside Manny’s. Manny has even decided to turn off all his cellular phones the whole day. He means business,” said Joson.