LAS VEGAS ? As time winds down to precious few for one of the greatest boxing careers of contemporary times, the very thought of retirement and being on the threshold of another calling seem to fire up Manny Pacquiao one last time.
At 37 and ready to call it quits, the eight-division champion who knew he had done it all wanted to go out in a blaze of glory by going all out after the man who dealt him one of his few losses and this serves as impetus for the Filipino fighter to reach peak form and on top of his game.
Pacquiao will fight Timothy Bradley for the third time this Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and he admitted feeling like a brand new fighter.
?I feel fresh and new and hungry,? he said.
Coming out of a long 11-month layoff since the richest showdown in boxing history against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and having the luxury of time to work himself back into competitive form following a minor shoulder surgery, Pacquiao is ready to come out like the old warrior as he climbs the ring for one last time before leaving it all behind to serve the people as budding politician back home.
With his shoulder 100 percent repaired, Pacquiao seems ready to relive his glory days when he was younger and stronger and his trainer Freddie Roach said the man was even better and stronger than before. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
?It was good for me that I had the long layoff. Now, I feel like when I was starting to fight in America,? he said.
Losing three of his last six fights, there were some fears that the Filipino champ was way past his prime and missing the killer?s instinct that had made him the icon of this brutal sport.
But Pacquiao said he still had it all and vowed to dish it all out come Saturday.
?Yes, I still have the killer instinct and I felt that when I started training for this fight. It?s really a good thing that I rested almost one year,? he said.
?I?m so excited for Saturday,? Pacquiao said.
Roach agreed with Pacquiao although he said it doesn?t mean that they try to chop Bradley?s head off and score their first knockout since 2009.
Going for a knockout, he said, could again be one costly mistake.
?We?re not gonna make that mistake. We never look for a knockout because if you do it?s not going to happen,? said the 55-year-old trainer.
?We never go out there looking for a knockout. Never,? he said.
Bradley said the other day he sees himself winning by decision but, like Pacquiao, will keep on trying to land the big one and cut the long night short.
?I?m going to win ? 12 round decision,? he said.
