Another world champ joins Pacquiao in rigid training at Baguio gym

BAGUIO CITY – This mountain resort city is now fast becoming the favorite training venue of world champions in boxing following the footsteps of Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao who is entering his second week of rigid training at the Shape Up gym inside the Cooyeesan Hotel along Naguilian road.

This developed as the camp of World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona will be arriving in the city anytime this week to hold his high altitude training in preparation for his upcoming title defense against a still undisclosed tough opponent on Nov. 21 in Canada.

Rufino Panagan, a well-known local boxing promoter, said world champions and world-rated boxers seem to like the prevailing cool weather condition in the city which is suitable for their required high altitude training in preparation for their upcoming international and national exposures.

At the same time, he said the Sonsona camp informed him they were amazed how local residents received Pacquiao and members of his training camp, thus, they will also do their training in the city to prepare for his upcoming title defense.

Sonsona rested the WBO super flyweight crown from Puerto Rican Jose Lopez in a convincing fashion that made him one of the prospective successors of Pacquiao, who still remains the pound for pound king.

The 19-yeard old champion will trains in various gyms in the city, including the training venues of Panagan, in order to boost his chances of successfully defending his super flyweight crown to serve as an inspiration for upcoming local boxers.

According to Panagan, Sonsona will also be paying a courtesy call to local officials prior to the conduct of his rigid high altitude training since the city’s weather condition is similar to the weather in the United States and other countries where they are to hold their trainings.

Sonsona will also have the chance to join Pacquiao in his daily workouts to get important fighting tips before the Filipino superlight weight champion will leave for the US for the final phase of his expected tough bout with Puerto Rican welterweight king Miguel Coto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Panagan said more world champions and world-rated boxers will be coming to the city in the next few months to hold high altitude trainings in preparation for their respective tough encounters with foreign boxers since they have seen how local residents gave way for Pacquiao to concentrate on his training. -- Dexter A. See