WBC Featherweight champ trains in Cebu, Phils.

WBC champ trains at ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu By Salven L. Lagumbay (SecondsOut.com) If Ring Magazine featherweight king Manny Pacquiao wants some quality sparring, he should fly to Cebu pronto. This after World Boxing Council featherweight king In-jin Chi of Korea decided to continue his training at the world-class ALA Gym in Talamban, Cebu in preparation for his titular defense against Australian Tommy Browne on January 30. "Yes, he is here," confirmed Cebu sportsman Tony Aldeguer, owner of the ALA Gym when asked by this writer if indeed Chi is training at his gym. "The manager (Ku Sung Lee) personally asked me through Atty. Rudy Salud during the Yanig sa Taguig fight," Aldeguer explained on why Chi secretly flew to Cebu. The ALA Gym is known as the former home of such boxing luminaries as ex-WBC champs Gerry Penalosa and Malcolm Tunacao, ex-WBA champ Joma Gamboa, world-title challenger Edito "Ala" Villamor, Andy Tabanas among others. It is also where such current world-ranked fighters as Randy Suico, Rev Santillan, Rey Bautista, and Yukka Gejon among others train for their upcoming fights. Reportedly, Chi has decided to transfer base in Cebu owing to Korea's chilly winter season, which makes training impossible there. He is preparing for his second WBC title defense against Browne. Chi is one of the elite fighters being considered to face Pacquiao, along with Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales. His stand-up, forward style makes him a good candidate to earn a crack at Pacquiao. Chi had won the WBC title with a seventh-round knockout over Michael Brodie in April this year following their first encounter which resulted in a draw. Last July, he defended it against Japanese Eiichi Sugama, prevailing on a tenth-round technical knockout.