Pacquiao eyes Baguio as training site

As the hunt for the venue that will host his training camp steps into high gear, Manny Pacquiao said the country’s summer capital looks like a perfect choice to hold his preparation for the Nov. 14 showdown with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

“Baguio could be a nice choice for the initial phase of my training because of the mountains,” said Pacquiao, who uses the hilly terrain of Griffith Park in Hollywood as venue for his morning workouts. “I can’t train without running in the mountains.”

Since Pacquiao has been advised to move the first four or five weeks of his training camp outside the US so he doesn’t shell out millions in taxes owing to an IRC provision, the 30-year-old pound-for-pound king might settle for the City of Pines.

Pacquiao has ruled out the Bahamas as venue because it lacks the mountainous terrain that he requires to host his training. Vancouver, although mountainous in some parts, has been scratched because of the frequent rains.

Being considered now is Cancun, the resort city in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and the boxer’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz is scheduled to check on the area.

If Cancun cannot offer what Baguio has, Pacquiao might end up bringing his act there.

Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said the fighter hasn’t decided how long the Baguio session will be, hinting that he won’t be surprised if Pacquiao opts to train there the entire time before the final push that will take at the Wild Card in Hollywood two weeks before the fight.

Pacquiao is scheduled to attend a four-city press tour kicking off Sept. 10 in New York. The following stops will be Puerto Rico (Sept. 12), San Francisco (13th) and Los Angeles (14th).

Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s business manager, has offered his vacation home in Baguio to play host to Pacquiao’s training.

Source: mb.com.ph