Pacquiao eyes Baguio training camp anew

THERE is a chance Manny Pacquiao will once again head to the Summer Capital to undergo training for his November 13 fight against Antonio Margarito.

Baguio City remains to be the priority of the pound-for-pound-king-turned-congressman after his successful preparation for his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

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Even his trainer Freddie Roach is also thinking of setting up a base in the city because of its cool breeze and high altitude, ideal for Pacquiao's high altitude training against an opponent bigger and taller than him by five inches.

But earlier reports said the boxing icon is having second thoughts about training in Baguio, preferring to set up camp in a place near the Batasan Complex that would allow him to continuously attend to his congressional duties.

Pacquiao arrived in the country early Monday morning and declared he will buckle down to work in two weeks time after a whirlwind press tour in the US last week to promote the fight with the 5-foot-11 Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) light-middleweight crown.

The week-long press tour had the two fighters make the rounds of Beverly Hills, California, New York, and then capping it with personal appearances during the Dallas-Miami pre-season football game at the Cowboys Stadium, site of the 12-round bout.

Pacquiao, in a television interview, said he'll work double time and finish things needed to be done shortly before his eight-week training kicks off September 20.

Roach plans to plane into the country the weekend before training camp begins.

Even so, these plans may not push through after a national daily reported that Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares Jr. offered the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig to Pacquiao, according to the fighter's business manager, Eric Pineda. (Roderick Osis)