It’s seldom that a fighter travels abroad to fight a titleholder in his backyard and comes out a winner’

But former two-time world champion Oscar Larios of Mexico is undaunted as he takes on the likes of the ever perilous Manny Pacquiao in a twelve rounder on July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.

It is a huge leap forward by the brawler fondly called ‘Chololo’ who is coming in as an underdog owing to a loss of his Jr.featherweight crown to Israel Vasquez.

Pacquiao, who is deep in training at his Holywood digs says he is ready for the challenge of the peripatetic Mex adding that Larios is not yet the fighter who can deter him further from elevating his star status..

Fact is, majority of the experts we’ve talked to are saying the Gensan mauler is virtually unbeatable against the hard-punching Guadalajara native.

Freddie Roach , Manny’s chief handler has taught him everything he needs to know to insure that nothing mars their march toward a megabuck year-ending encounter with Erik Morales– legal suits filed by his own handlers against Pacquiao’s advisers– notwithstanding,

Just when details of this promo dubbed mano a mano have been put to order, comes this brazen intrusion which Manny needs like a friggin’ hole in the head.

Unbelievable!

From where we sit, it will be a brutal test of skills by two determined fighters out to regale the millions who are looking forward to such a meeting.

Make this one a great fight—nay– a damn good one with sustained action guaranteed to enthrall even the tightwads who are likely to break their banks just to see this fisticuff.

To resist Pacquiao’s pressure in the early going is the ultimate headache of anyone including Larios.

Ask El Terrible Erik who was a prey to such woes in their second meeting.

And who was it who sagely wrote that “boxing is the manly art of murder?”

The sensational Pacman owns a knockout record that is the envy of the other practitioners in his weight class.

The last one to succumb to his lethal combos was the prodigious Erik Morales.
But, Larios, to repeat is not an easy out. He is tough as nails and admittedly, a fierce owner of a potent right hand which has long been the bane of left-handed battlers.

Most of Larios’ victims (who were iced early in his career) attest to his mind-numbing knockout prowess.

But can the taller Mexican land his sockdolager to score an upset? Or will Super Pacman register a one-sided massacre?

Your call