The Philippine Online Chronicles

Boxing star Manny Pacquiao is preparing to embark on an eight-week training regimen starting September 20, in preparation for his upcoming fight with Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.

Although Pacquiao previously trained in Baguio City, he is reportedly considering moving his training camp to a place near the Batasan Complex, to allow him to continue his duties as congressman of the province of Sarangani.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said that four to five weeks of the training will be in the Philippines and the rest will be at his famous Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California. Roach will be flying in from the United States the weekend before training is set to begin.

Roach added that he preferred Manny to train in Baguio rather than Batasan.

“Not that I anticipate any problem with Manny’s training,” Roach said. “I have never had a fighter who trained harder than Manny does, but I want him to train in a place where there will be less distractions from fans and others who want a piece of him.”

No comment on Mayweather apology

Pacquiao has yet to comment on the apology made by American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who launched a strongly-worded tirade against Pacquiao on his Ustream account. Mayweather was reacting to questions about whether he would fight Pacquiao in the near future.

"I heard about it," Pacquiao said about Mayweather’s statements. "I'm satisfied with this (Margarito) fight. I'm going to train hard. I don't care as long as the fans are happy. A couple of more fights and that's it.”

Despite the outrage of his fans, Pacquiao mentioned that Mayweather’s actions actually brought publicity to the Margarito fight.

“I do want to apologize for what happened the other night. I want to apologize to everybody," said Mayweather, once again over Ustream.com.

“They felt it was a racist comment that came from me. I don’t have a racist bone in my body, you know. I love everybody. Some of my guys are Muslims. Some of my guys are Jews. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans, whites, it doesn’t matter. There is nothing but love in my heart, you know what I’m saying?"

“Anybody who was offended by what I said the other day, I apologize as a man,” he added. “I was just having fun. I didn’t really mean it, nothing in a bad way. So let’s stay on this roller coaster ride and keep riding, baby. It’s all love."

Mayweather's tirade can be viewed here.