MANNY Pacquiao rose from abject poverty as a street kid in the Philippines to become one of the wealthiest and most successful boxers in history.
With his next fight against Aussie Jeff Horn just a matter of months away, Grantlee Kieza spoke with the 38-year-old while en-route to Sydney and Melbourne last week
You?ve been a professional boxer for 22 years and made $500 million from the sport. You?re now 38-years-old and a senator in the Philippines Government. Why are you still fighting?
I want to keep fighting because I love boxing. Boxing is my passion. I realise that through my sport I can help a lot of poor people by giving inspiration to them. This is a great opportunity to fight in Brisbane. Come July 2 it is going to be a good fight and the chance for me to box before the biggest crowd that has ever been to one of my fights.
What has the sport of boxing done for your life?
It changed my whole life. I want to show the people that I came from nothing and that even though I did not have anything in my life, I was able to become a world champion and to travel and box all around the world. I was able to help my family who had nothing also. I am very thankful and I feel very blessed that I could help them and also other poor people in the Philippines, I used my own money to build more than 1000 homes for families who had nowhere to live.
You were supposed to film a TV promo in secret at Southbank in Brisbane but word spread and thousands of people turned up cheering for you and climbing over each other just to touch you. Were you surprised that you have so much support in Australia even though Brisbane is Jeff Horn?s hometown?
I was amazed and surprised that I have so many friends in Australia. I did not know so many people knew me here and I am looking forward to the Battle of Brisbane. It is a big challenge for me. This will be a once in a lifetime event for Brisbane. I think it will be a competitive fight. My message to the fans in Australia is thank you very much for the warm welcome. Me and Jeff Horn will do our best to put on a great fight and to make the people happy.
Your fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2015 generated nearly a billion dollars and was the biggest grossing sporting event in history. Jeff Horn is certainly not as well-known as Mayweather?
No, but you could compare this to my fight with Mayweather because of the huge crowd coming. In some ways it is more exciting for me because the venue is so big. I fought before more than 50,000 people in Texas once (in 2010) but this crowd could be even bigger.
Mayweather beat you on points. What went wrong?
I worked very hard and trained hard but in the fourth round he was staying on the ropes and I threw a lot of punches. I was attacking him but my shoulder, the rotator cuff, was injured. It?s part of the game. The way Mayweather fights ? running around ? I don?t think the fans want that style. I?m the kind of fighter who likes to say ?come on, let?s fight toe-to-toe??.
Are you worried that Jeff Horn will have so many fans at Suncorp Stadium? You will certainly be outnumbered.
I will have many fans, too. But I have no fear about boxing in front of a big crowd. I fought Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio Texas once (2003). There were thousands of Mexicans there to cheer him. The only friends I had were in my corner. But I still won. The first time I went to America (against Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas in 2001) nobody gave me a chance but I still won.
Jeff Horn isn?t well known outside Australia. What do you see in him?
I like this fight because of Jeff Horn?s confidence. There will be a lot of action in the ring because he likes to fight toe-to-toe. I am pleased to be giving him a chance at my title and to pursue his talent in boxing. It will be a real pleasure for me because I am the champion fighting in his hometown. I believe that with the support of my team I can be victorious and I want the fans to be happy with an entertaining fight.
What have you seen of Horn and how will you fight him?
He?s a good boxer and a hungry challenger. I am not underestimating him. I have to make sure I am in 100 per cent condition when we fight. I remember what it was like to be a young, hungry challenger. I would lie awake at night hoping for one chance and that is what Jeff Horn is like now. He is confident he can beat me.
Who have been your toughest opponents?
There have been a few, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto. The big one was Antonio Margarito. He was much bigger than me. On the night of the fight I weighed 148 pounds (67kg) and he was 165 (75kg) so it was a big weight difference.
Do you ever fear getting into the ring?
I don?t have fear of that. My main concern is that I entertain people with every performance.
What advantages do you have over Horn?
Experience.
Anything else?
Yes, other things. But I will maximise my advantage against him. I have a lot of work to do in the Philippines. I have a lot of work in the gym and I have a lot work in my (Senate) office, too. I will run in the morning, work in my office in the day and train in the gym until late at night. I know Jeff Horn is coming to win.
You have seen a little bit of AFL in Australia. Who would win between Brisbane and Collingwood?
