Pacquiao to set up Cotto training camp in Baguio

Instead at the comfort of the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, Freddie Roach will have to make do with the cool, high-altitude temperature of Baguio City when Manny Pacquiao starts training for his 12-round showdown with Miguel Cotto this November.

On Friday, Pacquiao announced that the country’s summer capital is going to serve as his official training camp for the November 14 fight with the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion from Puerto Rico, meaning Roach will have to fly here from the U.S. to prepare the Filipino to what the famous trainer referred to as the Pacman’s “toughest fight" to date. “Kaya kailangang pumunta ni Freddie dito," a grinning Pacquiao said with authority, drawing laughter from his audience at a private room of the Crown Plaza Hotel in Ortigas. Roach had been opposed to Pacquiao training in the country, stressing that too many distractions would hamper his concentration, unlike when he’s at the Wild Card gym in California where the American trainer is able to strictly monitor the Filipino’s daily activities. But the 30-year old top pound-for-pound fighter today assured Roach and his hordes of Filipino fans that everything is going to be fine once he enters training camp. “Kapag ako kasi nag-train, iba kaysa sa other boxers. Gusto ko pinarurusahan `yung katawan ko," he said. “Kaya alam ko talaga yung time kung kelan ako magsimula na mag-training." Solar Sports made the press conference possible as a sendoff for Pacquiao who is U.S. bound, and at the same time, as a victory party for International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Brian Viloria. Viloria arrived in the country Thursday night from Hawaii after successfully defending his IBF belt against Mexican Jesus Iribe last Sunday. He joined Pacquiao during the luncheon along with Solar Sports president Wilson Tieng and Solar Sports chief operating officer (COO) Peter Chanliong. Pacquiao expects to start training by middle of September after he returns from a five-city publicity tour for his fight against Cotto. The trip will take the two fighters at Yankee Stadium in New York beginning September 10. The promotional tour will also have stops in Caguas, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Los Angeles and finally, San Diego. He said once he returns to the country, hopefully, he already have Roach in tow. The three-time Hall of Fame trainer is expected to bring along with him conditioning coach Alex Ariza and three sparring partners. Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, according to Pacquiao, has already set camp in Baguio. The Filipino then resumes his training in the U.S three weeks before the fight. “Kilala ko si Cotto. Malaki, malakas at di naman ganun kabobong boksingero. Magaling, kaya di tayo kailangang magkumpiyansa," he said. Pacquiao is expected to be taxed heavily should he trains in the U.S. for eight weeks as aliens like him are only allowed to stay there for at least 180 days in the course of a year. Meanwhile, Pacquiao and Solar sports executives announced during the same event the establishment of a boxing company aimed to produce, promote and distribute boxing shows involving Filipino fighters to the international market. With Pacquiao as chairman, the outfit already began its operation during the “Island Assault" boxing card featuring Viloria and world rated Filipinos Dennis Laurente and AJ Banal. – GMANews.TV