Las Vegas, United States | AFP.- Manny Pacquiao believes his 11-month absence from the ring following last year’s loss to Floyd Mayweather has left him hungrier than ever as he prepares for his farewell fight against Tim Bradley on Saturday.
The 37-year-old Filipino insisted that he will retire from boxing after his third fight against Bradley and will focus entirely on his political career in his native country, where he will seek his election to the Senate.
At a press conference this Wednesday at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas (Nevada), Pacquiao said he saw Saturday’s fight as an opportunity to close his career in style.
“It’s very important to me to win this fight, and to win convincingly,” Pacquiao said. “It is part of my legacy.”
When asked if he still had the killer instinct, which helped him win a record eight world titles in eight weight classes, Pacquiao claimed that his long absence had served to renew his enthusiasm for boxing.
“I still have that (killer instinct),” Pacquiao said. “I took almost a year off and when I started training for this fight I felt fresh and hungry again, just like when I started boxing. It has been good for me. It’s good to have had a long break.
I still have that wish. I love boxing. Boxing is my passion. I grew up in boxing. I started when I was 12 years old, non-stop, until now, “he added.
Longtime Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach revealed his concerns about whether rumors surrounding his retirement could be a distraction for this fight.
“I thought it could be, but the training camp was great, it was like any other training camp. Manny maybe worked a little more and said ‘We’re going to get out there with a bang’ and that’s what we intend to do, “said Roach.
– ‘Hell Battle’ –
Pacquiao (57-6-2) joked that a good knockout against Bradley – who has gone the distance twice with the Filipino, winning one, losing another – would increase his appeal at the polls for the May elections in Philippine.
Pacquiao, however, has not scored a knockout since 2009, when he demolished Britain’s Ricky Hatton in two rounds before beating Miguel Cotto six months later with another 12-lap TKO.
On his side, Bradley said he was prepared for the aggressive plan that Pacquiao intends.
“I am hoping that he is more aggressive, that he is going to come out as a soul that the devil carries and try to rip my head off,” Bradley said at the same press conference.
The 32-year-old American, a resident of the Californian desert city of Palm Springs, believes that his opponent’s combative approach can work in his favor.
“If he’s more aggressive, then he’s likely to give me more opportunities,” said Bradley, who recognized Pacquiao’s legacy and how it would help his political aspirations.
“He has shown time and again that he is from the people and for the people, and that he is a man of his word. And he has always shown great character and integrity, ”said Bradley.
Pacquiao played down reports that Bradley had tried to incorporate tactical elements used by Juan Manuel Marquez when he inflicted a devastating knockout on the Filipino in December 2012.
“I know Floyd (Mayweather) used the same training strategy, I know they are going to use that strategy,” Pacquiao said.
But I have learned a lot from that fight. So maybe they should think of another strategy, “stressed the Philippine idol.