Manny Pacquiao: Boxing Celebrities Converge in Philippines for Pacman's Training

Newly-crowned WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire leads boxing celebrities who are coming to the Philippines to watch or participate in the training sessions of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, which is set to start in Baguio City over the weekend.

Donaire arrives today on Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles after going through a round of reconciliation talks with his father over a family dispute.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza flew in yesterday along with British boxing idol Amir Khan.

Khan, who is set to face Paul McCloskey in England on April 14th, is training under Freddie Roach and he will be joining Pacquiao in Baguio City this weekend or early next week.

Right after arrival from a week-long press tour in the US, Pacquiao began training early last week, doing some morning roadwork, playing basketball with his ragtag team and engaging long-time trainer and childhood friend Buboy Fernandez in the mitts.

Pacquiao's regular spar mates David Rodela and Shawn Porter, were also joining Roach and Ariza in the Baguio training camp.

David Rodela, who lost to Dante Jordan of Mexico last year, is also the sparring partner of Amir Khan while Shawn Porter, who is a welterweight from Akron, Ohio, is undefeated in his professional boxing career.

Rodela and Porter have been regular sparring partners of Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao.

Ana Julaton, who recently trashed Francesca Alcanter to retain her WBO bantamweight crown, also arrived on a separate flight yesterday.

Not just boxing celebrities, but media people including sportswriters are also scheduled to arrive in the Philippines for the fight build-up of Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley on May 7th, and Amir Khan vs. Paul McCloskey of England on April 14th.

Bob Arum is bringing US media outfits next month when he pays a visit to Manny Pacquiao's high-altitude training camp in Baguio City. Arum is arriving in the country on March 21st, tagging along a few American media men who will be given a close look at Pacquiao's build-up for his May 7th world welterweight title match with Shane Mosley, Yahoo News reports.

"We'll show them Baguio," said Arum Monday from Las Vegas, sounding very excited over his trip that takes place in three weeks time, the report added.