Manny Pacquiao says he has “two or three fights” left in him as he appears to be like to say the WBC welterweight world title with victory over Mario Barrios.
Pacquiao will battle Barrios on July 19 on the MGM Grand Las Vegas after the WBC controversially granted him a straight shot at Barrios’ world title on this comeback battle.
The 46-year-old returns from a four-year lay-off and makes an attempt to interrupt his personal file by changing into the oldest welterweight champion in boxing historical past.
The previous senator and presidential candidate in his native Philippines hasn’t received since he boxed Keith Thurman in 2019, his final battle a sound loss to Yordenis Ugas again in 2021.
He ran to reclaim a seat within the Senate this yr, however completed 18th within the midterm elections, shortly confirming he can be making a return to the ring thereafter.
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Pacquiao reveals he is nonetheless received his lightning velocity, as he trains forward of his comeback battle the place he might break his personal file because the oldest world welterweight champion. Credit score: @mannypacquiao
Now, Pacquiao is “all in” on his probability to carry a world title as soon as once more and believes he has the “power” to maintain boxing for years to come back.
“This battle is essential to me as a result of it is historical past. I imagine I might be the primary Corridor of Famer to win one other world title, and I might additionally break my very own file because the oldest welterweight world champion,” Pacquiao stated.
“Once I retired in 2021, it wasn’t a great feeling as a result of I had it in my coronary heart and my thoughts that I can nonetheless battle. I’ve at all times identified that I might nonetheless work onerous and dedicate myself and give attention to coaching. I’ve rested and now I am again.
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A glance again to 2009 when Pacquiao landed one of many cleanest left fingers ever to knock out Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas
“I really feel quick and I really feel just like the power continues to be there. I can nonetheless do what I’ve performed earlier than in coaching. If something, my crew proper now’s attempting to gradual me down and ensuring I get sufficient relaxation. I nonetheless wish to push myself each day, however I do know that I’ve to hearken to my crew.
“I feel I’ve two or three extra fights left. I really feel like I might do that for an additional couple of years. However I am simply taking it one by one.
“I had quite a lot of distractions and issues earlier than the Yordenis Ugas battle. However proper now I am 100 per cent and there are not any distractions. I am simply coaching and utterly centered on the battle.”
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Among the finest rounds of the yr? Watch again the epic twelfth spherical between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn
Intriguingly, Conor Benn is eligible to problem the winner of the Pacquiao-Barrios.
Benn misplaced to Chris Eubank Jr at middleweight and is anticipated to rematch his rival later this yr.
However that will not rule him out of difficult for the WBC belt at 147lbs, regardless of not boxing within the division for a number of years and dropping his most up-to-date battle.
“He’s ranked by the WBC, Eubank is also ranked by the WBC, completely different weight classes. It’s as much as him [Benn]. Proper now if he is doing a rematch, then he is not going to problem for the WBC for a while however he is eligible,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman informed Sky Sports activities.
