If Pacquiao decides to train in RP, Roach wants Baguio
Published on: 6th September, 2009
Related News
If Manny Pacquiao decides to spend the first half of training camp in the Philippines, trainer Freddie Roach said yesterday he doesn’t have a choice but follow what the big boss wants.
But Roach said he would like to make a simple request.
“If we train in the Philippines, I’d tell Manny to train in Baguio,” Roach told the Bulletin. “Not in Cebu. I heard the weather is fine up there (in Baguio) and there’d be less distractions (compared to Cebu or elsewhere).”
“Realistically speaking, I’d like to train (Pacquiao) outside the Philippines but…” said Roach, aware that Pacquiao has the final say on the matter.
With a little three months to go before Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Roach is getting antsy as he has yet to get a call either from Pacquiao’s camp or Top Rank informing him of the latest developments.
“I have not heard from them,” said Roach, when asked about the other pertinent details of the Pacquiao-Cotto slugfest.
Pacquiao is being advised to train outside the US for the first four weeks to avoid shelling out millions in taxes.
Top Rank head Bob Arum is offering Pacquiao to train in utmost seclusion in the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas courtesy of a dear friend, while Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal is training his sights on Vancouver, Canada.
Others being considered are Mexico and the Philippines with Manila and Cebu being mentioned as possible sites aside from Baguio.
While Roach is in the dark, the multi-awarded cornerman has already made a big step as far as the start of training camp is concerned.
“I have already contacted four guys who will be Manny’s sparring partners,” Roach, rattling the names of Raymond Serrano and Urbano Antillon as the two of the four he wants to see in training camp.
Serrano and Antillon helped Pacquiao in the buildup to the Ricky Hatton fight last May.
Meanwhile, World Boxing Council (WBC) president Jose Sulaiman said the WBC will not hesitate to sanction the Pacquiao-Cotto bout as a world title fight once Arum makes a request to the g
