In anticipation of a bruising battle with Miguel Cotto, a rugged Mexican welterweight will be tapped to travel to Baguio and whip Manny Pacquiao into form for the November 14 showdown with Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Former world champion Jose Luis Castillo has been notified that he will be part of Pacquiao's training camp that should kick off in Baguio in less than two weeks time, the Filipino fighter's Canadian adviser Mike Koncz said on Tuesday.
"When I went to Mexico recently, I bumped into (Mexican promoter) Fernando Beltran and he suggested that Castillo be used as sparring partner and when I got back, I told Manny about it and he approved it," said Koncz.
Beltran promotes Castillo, a battle-tested 35-year-old who is expected to push Pacquiao to the limit in sparring owing to his attacking style.
The 5-8 Castillo, who holds a 59-9-1 win-loss-draw card with 51 knockouts, is fresh from stopping Christian Solano last August 22.
Castillo figured in one of the most action-packed fight in all of boxing when he engaged the late Diego Corrales in an epic clash at lightweight in May 2005.
Aside from Castillo, also being tapped by chief trainer Freddie Roach are Raymund Serrano, Shawn Porter, and Urbano Antillon.
Roach hasn't been consulted about getting Castillo.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will take a Cathay Pacific flight bound for New York via Hong Kong this morning to attend the five-city press tour that kicks off at Yankee Stadium on Thursday (Friday in Manila).
Pacquiao will come face-to-face and mano-a-mano with Cotto in New York then the two will proceed to Caguas in Puerto Rico on Saturday, San Francisco on Sunday and finally to Los Angeles on Monday. Another gig will be held in San Diego on Tuesday but Cotto won't be there as he will fly to his training camp in Tampa, Florida.
Pacquiao will be back in the country on September 17 or 18 and will proceed immediately to Baguio to begin training camp. It's not yet sure if Roach will join him right away or will just follow within the month.
Source: mb.com.ph
why would he do that? why would he go over freddie roach's head? this michael con is really something of a snake. he knows there is friction between them yet he keeps sticking it to roach. it's one sure way of driving a wedge between the friends.
ReplyDeletemaybe he wants to take over freddie's job or he gets a fee for castillo's services. FOCKING SNAKE!!!
i could not agree more!
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