"Pacquiao is a good fighter. I saw him in his (previous) fights. He has the speed. He has the power.
But a lot of weaknesses, too," said Rafael Mendoza, the Mexican promoter of Oscar Larios.
"I saw Manuel Marguez go down three times in the first round. And yet for the next 11 rounds Pacquiao couldn’t drop him again?" observed Mendoza.
Mendoza, of course, was referring to the Pacquiao-Marquez fight in Las Vegas in 2004. Pacquiao decked the Mexican thrice in the opening round only to settle for a draw.
Pacquiao and Larios lock horns this coming Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The fight, set to start at 11 a.m., is scheduled for 12 rounds.
Yesterday, the two fighters staged a public workout at the Big Dome. At first it looked more like a rock concert with loud, live music and great lights.
But the moment the boxers did their stuff on the ring, Larios first and Pacquiao next, it became apparent it was to promote a fight considered the biggest in the country in recent years.
Larios was on the ring for just 10 minutes, doing some shadow boxing and working on the mitts with his trainer Edison Reynoso. He wore a black sleeveless shirt, gray sweat pants and Nike shoes.
After he was through, the 29-year-old Larios, who flew in from Japan the other day, took off his shirt then flexed his muscles in front of photographers.
"He feels very fine now. He has adjusted to the time and weather. His father (Teodoro) arrived last night and Oscar is very happy," said Mendoza.
Shortly after the Mexicans left, Pacquiao came in.
The crowd of probably a thousand made it clear who the favorite was as they watched the Filipino boxing icon spar for three rounds against Russian mate Rustam Nugaev.
Pacquiao asked that the music turned off while he sparred, saying he’d rather hear his fans cheer him on. For two more rounds he pounded the mitts worn by Freddie Roach.
Like Larios, Pacquiao took off his shirt after the workout. But the Filipino was more generous, tossing it to the crowd. After half an hour, Pacquiao was back on stage, belting one of his popular songs as the crowd continued to cheer him on. He left the Big Dome past 2 p.m. and went back to his hotel.
Those fighting in the undercard were also introduced, including former world champion Gerry Peñalosa.
Notably absent, though, was Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista.
The 19-year-old sensation, who is based in Cebu, was rushed to the hospital the other day due to fever. But he was out of it yesterday, according to one of his handlers Sammy "Penrex" Gello-ani. Gello-ani said they will decide today whether Bautista would see action on Saturday.
NOTES: Things to bring for Filipino scribes covering the fight on Sunday: credential, pen and paper, and a pair of binoculars. Organizers of the multimillion-dollar event yesterday said there are only 10 ringside seats for the media. They are reserved for photographers of the different wire services and the top broadsheets. Local writers will be made to cover the fight from afar — Upper Box A. It’s the first time in history, both local and foreign, that writers covering a big match will be staying upstairs. Not even in big-time matches in the US where ringside tickets are worth well over a thousand dollars has this ever happened. Those who covered the Ali-Frazier fighter in 1975, among them The STAR sports editor Lito Tacujan, were at ringside. A ringside seat for the coming fight is worth at least P45,000. Of course, they’re better sold than given away. Reli de Leon, an executive officer of the Manny Pacquiao Promotions, has stepped in for the media. He promised that things would be ironed out before the sound of the opening bell.....The P50,000 and P45,000 tickets are not on public sale and not advertised. These are on ABS-CBN account. Open to public are the top price of P30,000 seats for patron seats, P20,000 for lower box, P7,500 for Upper A, and P2,500 for Upper B. General admission tickets are at P500 and on promo from ABS-CBN and Araneta Center.