By Recah Trinidad (Inquirer)Updated 04:10am (Mla time) 06/21/2006
THE COUNTDOWN for Manny Pacquiao’s noontime steak luncheon at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2 was tolled yesterday, upon the boxing hero’s return from the United States.
Pacquiao appeared ready for the scheduled feast, an inspirational rite before his loving countrymen.
After having honed up at the Wild Card Boxing Club off Vine Street in Hollywood, Pacquiao could be expected to climb the ring against Mexican Oscar Larios armed to the teeth.
While steaks are normally cut to thin slices with a sharp knife, Pacquiao is not leaving anything to chance.
He’s showing up for the luncheon date wielding a mighty axe.
“Hindi ko ipagpapalit kahit man sa lahat ng kayamanan itong karangalang bigay ng Mahal na Diyos na maging inspirasyon ng buong bayan,” Pacquiao told GMA-7 before winding up his shortened training in California.
Plainly translated, Pacquiao was assuring his countrymen he would give everything to repay their adoring support with a resounding win.
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However, the scheduled steak luncheon could also turn messy.
Larios could prove to be real tough meat.
Not to displease Pacquiao, who had to protest when we first described Larios in this column as a form of recycled Mexican meat.
We had also been wrongly suspected of trying to wreck the promotion by baring the true merit of Larios, a rangy former two-time world champion.
Well, by that label -- recycled steak -- we meant that the visiting Mexican promises to be less juicy, if not totally dry or drained.
But, come to think of it, Larios could also come in truly tough, malitid, like dreaded carabeef.
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Which momentarily pushed your reporter back to that dugout scene after Pacquiao lost his first fight against Erik Morales in March 2005.
It’s like this. After being dealt a boxing lesson-cum-bloody beating, by Morales, Pacquiao ended up comparing the masterly Mexican ring legend to a big, brutish carabao.
Pacquiao’s former close-in aide in California, Greg Asuncion of the LA Sheriff’s Office, last time bared that his beaten former big boss, usually tough and fearless, manifested awe and desperation after that loss.
Pacquiao next trained doubly hard, had his fighting mechanism overhauled, then went on to baffle and stop Morales for the first time in a classy career.
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Now, if Pacquiao sounds as though he has been training for Larios as hard as he had done against Morales, it’s also to help market the $4 million card bankrolled by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Pacquiao needed to appear properly worried about Larios.
So far, the national boxing hero has appeared quite successful in this selling venture.
In fact, the venerable sportsman Nene Araneta, in whose Big Dome the July 2 will be staged, was caught wondering about Pacquiao’s chances against the tall Mexican.
Señor Araneta was a main guest at the dinner for Miguel Torres Jr., son of the fabulous European wine king Don Miguel Torres of Vilafranca de Pinedes near Barcelona, at the Terry Selection in Makati Monday evening.
While Araneta was entertaining unfounded doubts, Morales, who is scheduled for a third encounter with Pacquiao in Las Vegas in November, picked the Pacman over Larios.
Veteran boxing journalist Ricardo Jimenez, now working as Top Rank spokesperson, also described Larios as beat up, or damaged goods.
Yes, the odds could go double-your-money for Pacquiao come fight time.
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Still, Pacquiao has reason to worry. Strong as he could be, Pacquiao cannot be expected to show up with a full oxygen tank against Larios.
Not to say that Pacquiao’s stamina would be good only for chasing a plate of corned beef across the table.
But if there promises to be a chink in Pacquiao’s armor, this should be his stamina.
As he had to cram after checking in late at Wild Card in Hollywood, there’s still the danger of Pacquiao running short of breath, as did happen in his fight against a Thai messenger in Taguig City in December 2004.
Of course, Pacquiao honestly knows where Larios stands.
But, on a good day, the recycled Mexican could also prove gamy and truly tough.
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