Given the usual exploits of the combatants, the July 2 clash at the Araneta Coliseum between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios could turn out to be one ‘hell of a fight’.

After a dearth of quality boxing events, the Big Dome roars back to life by staging Pacquiao’s first outing since destroying Erik Morales — this time against Larios–a former world champ who’s coming here to win and not to lose, according to his adviser Eric Gomez.

It took the arena’s top honcho Nene Araneta quite a time to re-discover the lure of boxing since it went on an extended leave.

The sterling wins registered by Manny moved Nene to bring big-time promos back to its home.

A huge turnout is expected when Manny re-enters the Coliseum where once the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Flash Elorde, Luisito Espinosa and countless assets of the Sweet Science saw action.

The fight itself hung in the balance as a bunch of left-wingers
threatened to sow terror during contract negotiations.

The coup threat however was aborted and the country’s largest
broadcast network ABS-CBN salvaged the project after HBO, backed out.

Manny with his fine record on the line is hard at work at his camp. And the buzz is whether the gutsy Mex can withstand the bombardment the GenSan marvel is likely to unleash on fight night.

Fight nuts will support it. This, from a pledge by Larios of an exciting night of boxing.

Just who is this Larios anyway?

He’s a former World Boxing Council superbantamweight champion from Mexico who is managed by Oscar de la Hoya.

De La Hoya’s man Eric Gomez says Pacman’s decision to face their ward is not a smart move. “One he’ll probably regret taking” added Gomez

Fact is, HBO, the pay-per-view giant, wanted Larios against Pacquiao to insure a competitive match-up.

In addition to giving it all against the Pacman, El Mexicano is hoping to perform as well as he did during his successful reign as a champion.

What we will see when Pacquiao and Larios clash is their contrasting style of delivering
dynamic hits.

Both will be right in their alley, in front of each other with no
backward movement ’til the big blows start connecting.

If the fight turns out anything like Pacquiao/Morales II, expect one ‘helluva’ night to remember.

Adios Senor Larios.

Can our fight fans get that lucky?