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Pacquiao did some light workout, doing the mitts with famed American trainer Freddie Roach and hitting the speed bag. He also did some shadow boxing and was talking to everyone while he did his routine, a typical Pacquiao manner whenever he is inside the gym for practice.

FACING a much taller, a lot bigger, and the best fighter to date in his next ring assignment, Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao finally hit the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon and started training for his much-awaited December 6 encounter with Oscar de la Hoya at the fabulous MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao was initially scheduled to start training a day before, but this was cancelled because he had to meet first with promoter Bob Arum and that the boxer was not feeling well Tuesday.

Also supervising Pacquiao's training regimen aside from Roach are Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri, Roger Fernandez, and Eric Brown.

Roach reportedly hired big sparring partners--two light middleweights and one welterweight--to prepare Pacquiao for De La Hoya, who started his own training for the fight a month ago.

Hired as sparring partners were 154-pounder Yuri Foreman and Arron Robinson and 147-pounder Rashad Holloway of Raleigh, North Carolina. Roach said all of them have "powerful left hooks."

Pacquiao, the punching machine from General Santos City, will be the heavy underdog in the 12-round battle at 147 pounds against De La Hoya, called the "Golden Boy" and boxing's hottest commodity.

De La Hoya, an Olympic gold medalist, holds an awesome advantage in size and he will be entering the ring looking down on his opponent ready to throw his most dangerous weapon--the left hook--which victimized many tough opponents in the past, notable of whom were Fernando Vargas and Ike Quartey.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao has appealed to his fans, especially those contracted with cough and colds, not to pay him a visit during his training.

Pacquiao said he would like to be in great shape the moment he climbs the ring against De La Hoya and does not want to get sick along the way.

Last Tuesday, Sept, 16, Pacquiao failed to show up at the Wild Card Gym after suffering from minor colds

Nobody thought it would come down to a fight between Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya.

That’s why finalizing the match has been nothing short of a—well, dream.

Top Rank Inc. promoter Bob Arum disclosed in a radio interview Tuesday that the Pacquiao-de la Hoya megabuck meeting on December 6 will be called “The Dream Match".

“It started out as a fantasy," the legendary promoter told boxing-radio personality Dennis Principe.

“Larry Merchant suggested it and then ESPN ran with it and it was a dream nobody thought would happen. Now it‘s a reality. Everybody liked that title."

Some of the titles to previous Pacquiao cards include: “Lethal Combination" vs. David Diaz, “Unfinished Business" vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, “Will to Win" vs. Marco Antonio Barrera and “Blaze of Glory" vs. Jorge Solis.

Meanwhile, Arum confirmed that Freddie Roach has in his hands videotapes of de la Hoya’s fights versus Pernell Whitaker and Hector Camacho, two bouts where de la Hoya struggled, Arum said.

De la Hoya won both fights—the only two ones versus left-handers in his career—via unanimous decision.

“I’ve always believed and Freddie does so to that that our guy Manny has a helluva chance to beat Oscar and he will beat Oscar. [Manny] is awkward the way he throws his punches. He’s faster than Oscar and he’s elusive," Arum said.

According to Arum, de la Hoya has begun looking for a trainer to replace Floyd Mayweather Sr., his first choice. Mayweather flew to England to train Ricky Hatton.

Manyo Plange of Ghana fights Harry Tanamor of the Philippines during their men's light flyweight (48kg) round of 32 boxing match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008. Harry Tanamor defeated by Ghanian.

Harry Tañamor lost to Ghana's Manyo Plange, 6-3, in the light-flyweight division of the Beijing Olympics.

Tañamor fought Plange in one of the last matches this evening at the Workers’ Gymnasium in the 48kg division.

Squaring off with Oscar De La Hoya has become an obsession for Manny Pacquiao that the Filipino southpaw believes he is capable of shocking the world in the event they meet in the ring on Dec. 6.
"I know that winning against De La Hoya is going to be tough but I have full confidence in what I can do and I know I can score an upset," Pacquiao said during a brief break in his vacation with his loved ones in the United States.

While a De la Hoya fight will guarantee him the fattest paycheck of his career, Pacquiao said there’s a personal aspect in this fight that is being proposed for Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"There’s going to be lots of money involved but I also have to settle something personal (with De La Hoya)," said Pacquiao, who did not elaborate, although ringsiders believe that De La Hoya’s disenchantment with the fighter began when Pacquiao turned his back on a contract that he signed with the Golden Boy.

Pacquiao has already met and discussed the merits of a De La Hoya fight with his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, and Arum has scheduled to meet with GBP Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer this Wednesday to determine whether a deal can be made between the two rival promotional outfits.

Recently, Pacquiao told a gathering of boxing beat writers, columnists and sports editors that he drools over the prospects of rumbling with a "legend like De La Hoya" and that he believes his trainer Freddie Roach is not out of his mind when he told the press that Pacquiao can get the job done even against a bigger fighter in De La Hoya.

Arum and Schaefer will deal with the revenue sharing not only in the pay-per-view, ticket sales and purse but likewise on the delicate issue of the weight limit and brand of the gloves that will be used.

Initial reports inside Team Pacquiao said the 29-year-old General Santos banger is asking million and De La Hoya has been quoted as saying that a fight involving himself would enable Pacquiao to earn up to five times the amount that he’s been getting.

Glenn Donaire, brother of flyweight king Nonito, vies for immortality today when he battles defending International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-fly champion Archie Solis in Hermosillo, Mexico.

In the event Glenn dethrones the heavily-favored Solis in their scheduled 12-rounder at the Palenque De La Expo, the Donaire fighting family will become a rarity as they’ll join the Penalosa family as the other pedigree that produced world champion brothers in Dodie Boy and Gerry.

During yesterday’s official weigh-in, Solis and Donaire both came in at a shade below the 108-lb limit.

Working the corner of Glenn will be his father Nonito Sr. and brother Nonito Jr., who currently reigns as the IBF 112-lb titleholder.

Glenn, according to Nonito Sr. trained like hell for his second crack at the world crown.

"Glenn worked on his stamina and I have a feeling he will be able to get the job done," said Nonito in an interview earlier in the week from their residence in San Leandro, California.

Holder of a 26-1-2 win-loss-draw card with 20 knockouts, two of Solis’ title defense victims were Filipinos – Rodel Mayol and Bert Batawang – who both got stopped by the muscular Mexican. Donaire shoots for history.

Glenn parades a 17-3-1 mark with nine stoppages.

When two explosive world champions at the top of their game mix it up for the world title, it’s a “Lethal Combination!” Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion MANNY PACQUIAO and WBC lightweight champion DAVID DIAZ will battle in a 12-round rumble with Diaz’s title at stake. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Pacquiao vs. Diaz will take place Saturday, June 28, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT..

Remaining tickets for Pacquiao vs.Diaz, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall, and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“This will be my hardest-fought battle,” said Pacquiao. “It’s been over three years since I have changed weight divisions and I will be doing it against the lightweight division’s world champion. I saw how he took the fight to Erik Morales in his last title defense and I’m expecting to see the same firepower out of him when we meet. But this is my drive for five. Five world titles in five different weight classes and I will not be denied. I am fighting for history, for destiny and for my people of the Philippines.”

"Manny Pacquiao has beaten many great fighters, especially Mexicans like Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Larios and Solis. That's why they call him “The Mexicutioner,” said Diaz. “I will shock the world and beat Pacquiao at his own game, power for power. He’s a great champion but he’s fighting in my division – lightweight. I have worked too hard for this world title and I will not give it up to him."

“Two world champions, at the top of their game, matching each other in speed, power, stamina and courage is a recipe for a great fight,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Manny has never felt the power thrown at this weight class just as Diaz has never gone toe-to-toe with such a human dynamo. But Manny possesses an inner strength from his fellow countrymen the likes I have never seen as a promoter with over 40 years of experience. Manny is more than a national treasure to the Philippines, he is the very symbol of its national pride. He doesn’t fight for himself, he fights for his people. It’s a responsibility that no other athlete could, or attempt to, accomplish.”

“Boxing fans recognize that in Pacquiao vs. Diaz you have one of the sport’s best fighters and biggest attractions moving up in weight to challenge a bigger, stronger champion,” said HBOPPV’s Mark Taffet. “It’s a very intriguing proposition and we look forward to the event."

Dubbed "Republica Enemy No. 1," Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs), from General Santos City, Philippines, has blitzed through the best fighters Mexico has had to offer since 2003 including Erik Morales (KO 3, TKO 10), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11, W 12), Juan Manuel Marquez (W 12, D 12), Oscar Larios (W 12), Emanuel Lucero (TKO 3), Hector Velazquez (TKO 6) and Jorge Solis (KO 8). Pacquiao was named 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring magazine for his two spectacular knockout victories of Mexican icon and three-division champion Morales, as well as his dominating 12-round unanimous decision over former world champion Larios. The hard-hitting southpaw has won 22 of his last 23 bouts including 2007 victories over Barrera and Solis. Pacquiao’s 12-round split decision victory over Marquez earlier this year not only avenged a disputed draw from their 2004 battle, it also made Pacman a four-division world champion.

Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KOs), from Chicago, will be making the second defense of his title. He successfully defended it against the three-division world champion Morales last summer winning a hard-fought unanimous decision over the future Hall of Famer. Although behind on the scorecards early, Diaz remained cool and rallied before the raucous hometown Chicago crowd of 10,000 to capture the decision. He swept the championship rounds and won the decision by scores of 114-113, 115-113 and 115-112. With the victory, Diaz cemented his place among the best lightweights in the sport and one of the most popular and respected athletes in the sports-crazy town of Chicago. A member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, Diaz, with 12 years of experience as a professional, is more than prepared to handle the pressures that come with battling boxing’s pound-for-pound most exciting fighter.

The Pacquiao vs. Diaz pay-per-view telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Diaz fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

Glenn Donaire of the Philippines will battle IBF lightweight champ Ulises "Archie" Solis in Aguascalientes, Mexico on May 17, Philboxing.com reported Friday.

The report said Donaire, the elder brother of IBF/IBO flyweight king Nonito Jr., is a last-minute replacement for Juanito Rubillar, another Filipino.

Bebot Elorde, Rubillar's manager, pulled out his fighter and opted to match him instead with Omar Nino of Mexico. The Rubillar-Nino clash will be an eliminator for the World Boxing Council light flyweight belt held by Mexico's Edgar Sosa.

Donaire's last attempt at a world championship belt was in 2006 against Vic Darchinyan.

Meanwhile, Solis's last two successful defenses were against two Filipinos -- Rodel Mayol and Bert Batawang.

Donaire has a 17-3-1 win-loss-draw card with 9 wins via knockout.

The Mexican champ, on the other hand, has 26-1-2 with 20 KOs.