MikeLigalig.com

By ABAC CORDERO
The Philippine Star

Manny Pacquiao spent the whole day Sunday filming commercials and plans to spend a few more days in Gen. Santos City before beginning his serious training for his March 15 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao arrived from a much-needed US vacation with his family early Saturday morning, and in the afternoon spent an hour sweating it out in a light workout at the Wild Card Gym in Parañaque.

On Sunday morning, Pacquiao put on his tracksuit and jogged in Calamba, Laguna. But there were cameras around as it was part of a new commercial he’s doing for Alaxan.

The filming started at 10 in the morning and was over early in the afternoon. The boxer was doing another commercial as of 4 p.m. but his business manager Eric Pineda did not give any other details.

"He’s just wrapping up these commitments before he goes to the US to train for the Marquez fight," said Pineda, adding that Pacquiao plans to keep in shape by running and doing exercises in the morning.

Pineda said Pacquiao is booked for a flight to the US on Jan. 14, just a day before he is scheduled to begin a heavy two-month workout under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao will fly to Gen. Santos City Monday.

Marquez, the reigning WBC super-featherweight champion, is reportedly a mile ahead in training and in fact even worked out on Christmas day when Pacquiao, his family and Roach were vacationing in Boracay.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum Sunday told Viva Sports that a planned fight with Britain’s Ricky Hatton on November is slowly turning into "a reality."

Arum met Pacquiao as the boxer was vacationing in Las Vegas, and over lunch they had a chance to talk to HBO president Ross Greenberg who was then in New York with key persons from the Hatton camp.

"It was funny because he (Greenberg) was together with the Ricky Hatton people for lunch in New York and they were talking about fighting Manny at the end of the year. So that’s a reality," said Arum.

The legendary Top Rank president recently said he’s not "looking too far ahead" since Marquez, the rugged counter-puncher from Mexico, "is already too much to handle."

But for the Hatton fight, or even that against WBC lightweight champ David Diaz in June or July, to happen, Arum said the 29-year-old Pacquiao has "got to win" against Marquez.


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