By Rey Danseco
 
Mexican Oscar Larios is comfortably walking around at the stipulated weight limit for his anticipated, difficult fight with Manny Pacquiao on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Larios’ trainer Edison Reynoso revealed that his former World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion weights at 59 kilogram, quarter pound over the stipulated weight of 130 pounds, after engaging in sparring session Wednesday at the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo.

Opposing Larios (56-4-1, 36 KOs) in the four sparring rounds each for four minutes was reigning WBC bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa, who is also religiously preparing for his scheduled title defense against Mexican Genaro "Poblanito" Garcia on July 15 in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Larios arrived in Japan on Saturday for three weeks of training and also watched the unanimous decision win of unbeaten Venezuelan feather Jorge Linares over Mexican Pedro Navarrete on the same night.

Larios, not known as a big puncher but is very active and aggressive, plans to come back to Manila on June 28 with Reynoso and rendezvous with his manager Jose Reynoso and business manager Rafael Mendoza.

The 29-year old resident of Guadalajara will challenge Pacquiao in a scheduled 12-round fight with the Filipino’s WBC International super featherweight title at stake.

According to Japanese boxing impresario Joe Koizumi, Larios and Hasegawa “sparred almost on even terms, and Larios look in good shape”.

Although the Japanese landed his southpaw left punches to Larios, Koizumi added that the Mexican hit back with quick combinations by using his height and reach advantage.

Larios stands 5-foot-8, same height of Pacquiao’s previous victim and possibly next-in-line opponent, Erik Morales for grudge fight that tentatively set on November 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Filipino superstar has 1 ½ inch disadvantage at 5-foot-6 ½ compared to Larios. However, both fighters are even in reach at 67 inches.

Pacquiao (41-3-2, 33 KOs) on the other hand is also religiously training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood under American guru Freddie Roach, who admitted that the General Santos lefty has mastered the thundering right hook in the past few weeks.

Roach added that the 27-year old Filipino’s punches are now flying out like a welterweight, and he also been able to regain his hand speed.

Pacquiao plans to come home on June 20 with Roach and Buboy Fernandez. They plan to resume their training in Baguio City.