Manny Pacquiao Leaves for US To Promote Fight With Antonio Margarito

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and his entourage are all set to fly to the US Sunday for a three-day media blitz to promote his upcoming fight with Mexican-American boxer Antonio Margarito.

From Los Angeles, California, Pacquiao and his team will proceed to New York City along with his trainer Freddie Roach where they will be joined by promoter Bob Arum for the three-state press tour.

From New York, Pacquiao and his entourage will take a private jet to Dallas along with Bob Arum for a meeting with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and for the final media tour which is set for Friday.

The Filipino boxer and first-term congressman of the Philippines will fly back to Los Angeles later on Friday to catch up with the 10 p.m. Philippine Airlines flight back to Manila.

Pacquiao is travelling with his wife Jinkee, his Filipino lawyer Franklin Gacal, and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, among others.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach is expected to fly to Manila early next month to start his first phase training session with Pacquiao starting September 20 Pacquiao and Roach will move to Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles for the second and final phase of Pacquiao's training for his November 13 fight with Antonio Margarito.

Texas is set to decide on Margarito's license to fight in the state on or before Friday this week.

It is widely expected that Margarito will have his license in Texas after failing to get one in Nevada and California.

Margarito was stripped of his license to fight in California when boxing regulators discovered a plaster-like object inside his hand wraps minutes before he climbed the ring to face Shane Mosley at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

In the meantime, promoter Bob Arum said he has invited Julio Chavez to join Freddie Roach in Manila to serve as Pacquiao's main sparring partner.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who is scheduled to face Miguel Cotto for the WBO light middleweight title on December 4 will come to Manila to train alongside pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, Arum said.

Pacquiao is now back in Manila after a brief visit earlier to Singapore where he was warmly received by his fans in Asia's most progressive city.