MANNY Pacquiao appears to be leaning toward setting up his training camp in the Philippines ahead of his November 24 comeback fight against American Brandon Rios.
Team Pacquiao nutritionist Nonoy Neri has confirmed to Spin.ph Pacquiao’s plan to spend time training in between General Santos City and Davao instead of Baguio and Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
The boxing great made a short visit to Neri’s place in Davao, where he is currently based.
“Dito siya nag-dinner sa amin noong isang gabi. Kinuwento nga niya na dito raw niya gusto mag-ensayo sa Davao,” said Neri, who owns a training facility in Toril, one of 11 sub-districts of Davao.
“Pero gusto rin daw niya mag-training sa Gensan kaya malamang hahatiin namin `yung training camp,” added Neri, a longtime buddy of Pacquiao just like assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.
Neri bared Baguio City might already be scrapped as possible training camp for Pacquiao as the country’s summer capital usually experiences bad weather during the final quarter of the year.
“First week kasi ng September ang start ng training camp namin. Madalas pag ganung panahon matindi ang bagyo sa Baguio di ba?” said Neri. “Pag kasi umuulan, minsan naaapektuhan `yung roadworks namin.”
Baguio had served as Pacquiao’s training camp during his fights against Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Sugar Shane Mosley, and his third meeting with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, although the major part of his preparation is usually held at Roach's sweat shop in LA.
Fernandez earlier told Spin.ph setting up training camp in the Philippines or elsewhere in Asia will be the most logical choice for the eight-time world champion since his welterweight bout against Rios will be held at nearby Macau.
But Fernandez made it known that it’s still the call of both Roach and Pacquiao as to where they intend to have training camp this time.
The 34-year-old congressman from Sarangani is expected to have his hands full against the hard-punching Rios, who boasts of a record 31-1-1, with 23 KOs and was the former World Boxing Association lightweight champion.
Pacquiao is looking to make use of the Rios fight as springboard for his bid to regain lost glory following back-to-back losses at the hands of Tim Bradley and Marquez last year.
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