Boxing Celebrities to Converge in the Philippines for Pacquiao's Media Day

Some of the most popular boxing celebrities and media personalities from around the world are expected to converge in the Philippines on Oct. 18 to attend Manny Pacquiao's media day in the mountain city of Baguio in northern Philippines.

Pacquiao's media day is being organized by Top Rank Promotions owner Bob Arum in connection with the upcoming fight of Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito who are both under contract with Arum's promotions company.

Pacquiao and Margarito will collide on Nov. 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Scheduled to travel to the Philippines with Arum is Fernando Beltran, Mexico's top boxing promoter and his Mexican media entourage.

Among the top boxing personalities that will visit Pacquiao in his training camp in Baguio City include Amir Khan, who will clash with Marcos Maidana on Dec. 11 for the WBA light welterweight crown.

Khan, who also trains under coach Freddie Roach, will be kept busy by Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza during his maiden voyage to the Philippines.

It is possible Roach and Ariza and the Wild Card team will divide their time to start Khan's early training for his December date with Maidana.

After Roach and Ariza are done with Pacquiao on Nov. 13, they will have almost one month to concentrate on the Khan-Maidana fight.

It appears that Khan appreciates the fact that he is training under the world's best trainer alongside with the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

“I get so much from working alongside Manny. We never fight over Freddie’s attention,” Khan said in an interview.

Another popular boxer who is joining Pacquiao's training sessions is Julio Cesar Chavez, who is scheduled to face Alfonso Gomez on Dec. 4 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Already in town are undefeated Glen Tapia of N.J. and six-footer Michael Medina (24-2) of Mexico. Light middleweight Vanes Martirosyan is likewise expected to arrive in the next few days.

"It's going to be a huge event," Arum said. “I am very excited to be there and see Manny, the rest of the team, and the Filipino boxing fans,” he added.

Aside from the the popular sportswriters representing top U.S. and Mexican media publishers, local and other foreign sportswriters are also expected to attend the affair.