By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao  launched his promotional outfit MP Promotions at the 14th floor of the East Tower of the Tektite Building in Pasig City last Friday.

 

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, a longtime and staunch supporter of Pacquiao cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the blessing of the offices of MP Promotions in the presence of Pacquiao’s management team headed by Shelly Finkel and Atty. Nick Kahn as well as trainer Freddie Roach who arrived Thuesday morning from Los Angeles.

 

A press conference was held at the Manila Hotel at noon Saturday to announce details of the July 2 fight against former two-time super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios which will be held at the Araneta Coliseum, the "mecca" of Philippine sports and entertainment.

 

In an interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Finkel said the third encounter with Erik "El Terrible" Morales could possibly take place sometime in October or November but only if Morales agreed to fight at 130 pounds. Finkel said that he had discussed the fight with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who handles Morales and told him that Pacquiao would not agree to fight at 132 pounds and he supported that decision which means if Morales declines, the fight is off.

 

Finkel said that would pave the way for a rematch with WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera possibly in January next year.

 

Roach said Pacquiao would spend two weeks slowly getting into shape at the Wild Card Gym in LA before returning to the Philippines and setting up training camp at a venue in Baguio City being provided by San Miguel Corporation. Pacquiao recently signed a mega-buck partnership deal with the country’s flagship company.

 

Roach said Pacquiao has to take the Larios fight seriously because the Mexican has long eyed a fight with Pacquiao and predicted he would knock him out. But Roach said that’s never going to happen because Pacquiao is too strong and too fast for Larios.

 

Pacquiao told Viva Sports he would attend the Flash Elorde Banquet of Champions Saturday night despite a legal battle with Elorde’s youngest son Marty Elorde who together with American lawyer Sydney Hall sued Pacquiao in connection with Elorde’s managerial rights for the first Morales fight. Pacquiao said he would attend "out of respect for Flash Elorde, a great fighter and a good man."