By Marc Anthony Reyes (Inquirer)Posted 05:35am (Mla time) 06/27/2006
THEY DIDN’T show up together atop the neon-bathed ring.
Nevertheless, the two combatants provided a glimpse of what fight fans can expect in Sunday’s boxing extravaganza at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Of course, Manny Pacquiao worked the crowd far better, even treating them with a ditty from his own CD after flexing his toned muscles and pummeling Freddie Roach’s mitts with his usual flair.
The speed was there. The form evident. His swagger in full display.
The country’s pride first squared off with Russian punching bag Rustam Nugaev, firming up his straights, tuning up his hooks and perfecting his uppercuts -- weapons at his disposal come fight night.
“We are ready for 12 rounds, but I still think the fight is not going past six rounds,” said Roach, reiterating his earlier prediction that Mexican Oscar Larios won’t last the first half of the megabuck fight.
Early today, Pacquiao is expected to jog along the Manila Baywalk to avoid the monsoon rains that come in the afternoon. By that time, he will be training some more at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
Larios was the curtain-raiser in the noontime preview, which reportedly cost at least P500 for a ringside view.
But the Mexican wasn’t generous showing his talent. He shadow-boxed under the watchful eyes of agent Rafael Mendoza. He hit the mitts held by trainers Jose and Edison Reynoso. But he left in a huff even before the three-hour aperitif was over.
Larios, who arrived last Sunday, was reportedly in a hurry to train in private as he is booked at the Elorde Gym on Julia Vargas Avenue in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. He was billeted at the nearby Discovery Suites.
Undercard boxers, ex-world super-flyweight king Gerry Peñalosa, super-featherweight Jimrex Jaca and lightweight Dennis Laurente -- who will fight Nugaev -- were also there to display their wares.
Cebu-based Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista has been hospitalized and was declared unfit to fight Mexican Alejandro Montiel in another bout.
Bautista will be replaced by stablemate Michael Domingo, according to his promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
Meanwhile, Big Dome officials yesterday said that Filipino reporters will have to cover the fight from the Upper-Box A, which is several meters away from the usual press box.
Organizers said they have allotted only 10 seats for photographers from wire services and leading dailies.
Ringside seats, reserved for accredited media even in the MGM Grand and Thomas and Mack Arena, are to be sold for P50,000.
Local and foreign newsmen who covered the Thrilla in Manila featuring Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 were given ringside seats at the same venue.
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