Even at age 42 and almost two years removed from his last fight, Manny Pacquiao will remain a threat to anyone who will dare challenge him in 2021, two leading Filipino two-division world champions confided yesterday.
“Yes, he can. Of course, he can still fight,” Espinosa told Daily Tribune when asked about Pacquiao’s ring comeback once the coronavirus situation improves next year.
Espinosa, now 53, fought from 1984 until 2005, and amassed a record of 47-13 with 26 KOs.
During his prime, Espinosa held the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight crown from October 1989 until October 1991 and the World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title from December 1995 until May 1999.
After knocking out Khaokor Galaxy in less than a round in Bangkok to win the WBA 118-lb plum, Espinosa made two successful defenses against Hurley Snead and Thanomchit Sithbaobey before losing it to Venezuelan gunner Israel Contreras at the Araneta Coliseum.
Four years later, Espinosa would re-emerge at 126 lbs and captured the WBC championship by beating Mexican Manuel Medina in Tokyo and defended it seven times, repulsing Alejandro ‘Cobrita’ Gonzalez, Cesar Soto, Nobutoshi Hiranaka, Medina, Carlos Rios, Juan Carlos Ramirez and Kennedy McKinney.
Before a hostile crowd in the order town of El Paso in Texas, Soto got back at Espinosa to end his reign.
Espinosa insists Pacquiao, who turns 42 on 17 December, can still slug it out with the creme dela creme of the welterweight class.
“He takes good care of his body and he is very disciplined. He can take on anyone in the division,” said Espinosa, who retired in 2005 and wandered around the US and even in Hong Kong and in mainland China before returning to the country a few years ago.
Gerry Peñalosa, holder of the WBC super-fly title from February 1997 until August 1998, and briefly the World Boxing Organization bantam diadem in 2007-2008, shared Espinosa’s sentiment but went further.
“Senator Manny is one-of-a-kind. Most boxers tend to go fat when they are not active but he is different. I think he is the only one who is not like us,” Peñalosa, now 48, said.
Peñalosa swears Pacquiao is a freak of nature and his iron will, level of confidence is unmatched.
“Whenever he doesn’t have a fight, you’d still see him work out. He doesn’t allow himself to stay out of shape. He is always in shape,” said Peñalosa, who called it quits in 2010 after logging a 55-8-2 slate with 37 KOs in a stellar 21-year career.
Peñalosa can’t wait to see his close friend get back in the ring and show everyone he remains a force to be reckoned with.
“I’d like to see him fight (Floyd) Mayweather again or face (MMA star) Conor McGregor, which is going to be an easy fight for him,” he said.
If Mayweather stays retired and the McGregor match doesn’t materialize, Pacquiao has a few other options.
“There is Danny Garcia and even Errol Spence and Terence Crawford. Manny can beat all of them,” Peñalosa said.
In fact, the last time Pacquiao saw action — in July 2019 — he dealt Keith Thurman, younger by ten years at 30, a neat boxing lesson.
Indeed, in the eyes of Espinosa and Peñalosa, age is just, well, a number.
