By Nick Giongco
Training camp proper for Manny Pacquiao’s clash with Adrien Broner kicks off in the middle of next month.
Pacquiao defends his World Boxing Association welterweight crown for the first time on Jan. 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Filipino legend still has to fulfill some commitments such as a speaking engagement in Oxford, England, and a two-city promotional tour in the US.
The UK trip will come first and from England, Pacquiao, who turns 40 on Dec. 17, will fly to New York for the first stop of the promotional tour sometime Nov. 6.
From the Big Apple, Pacquiao will head to Los Angeles before returning to Manila en route to General Santos City where the critical stage of the buildup will take place.
Pacquiao captured the WBA 147-lb crown by knocking out Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in seven rounds last July in Kuala Lumpur.
It was Pacquiao’s first stoppage in almost a decade since his last happened in Nov. 2009 against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao’s match with Broner will be his first under Al Haymon, who also represents Floyd Mayweather.
If Pacquiao wins against Broner, a rematch with Mayweather is expected to take place.
