Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao assured that his age is not a barrier to winning, just weeks before the fight with the WBA welterweight world champion, Argentine Lucas Matthysse.
Pacquiao, 39, will face the Argentine, 35, on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title.
The Filipino is the only boxer in history to have achieved the world title in eight different weight classes. He officially retired in 2016 before returning to the ring a few months later.
Many wonder about his abilities due to his age. At a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Matthysse dismissed that concern.
“It’s not about numbers, it’s not about age, that doesn’t matter,” he said. “It depends on your discipline in training, how you prepare,” he added.
Pacquiao stated that the fight against Matthysse will not be the last as he wants the last fight of his career to be in his country.
“This is not my last fight,” he said. “I think I still have a few more fights until I retire,” he added.
Pacquiao is a senator and many in his country believe that one day he will be president. The boxer said he was happier in the ring than politics.
He conceded that it was not “easy” to juggle between professional boxing and politics.
Matthysse (39 wins, 36 of them by KO, and four losses), who hung the world champion belt in January after defeating Teerachai Sithmorseng of Thailand, was confident of beating Pacquiao.
At the press conference on Friday, he said he was a good puncher “with both hands, which gives me a lot of confidence.”
Pacquiao has not fought since losing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on points to Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane in July and has not won by knockout in nearly nine years.
The Kuala Lumpur fight will be the first in 15 years in which Pacquiao will not be accompanied by his longtime coach, American Freddie Roach.
The Filipino fighter said the role may be filled by his friend and compatriot Buboy Fernandez, at least for the match with Matthysse.
Pacquiao: “Age is not a barrier to success”
