After postponing his LA training camp with Freddie Roach, yet again, as he opted to remain in the Philippines for the time being to train, Filipino boxing fans are wondering more than ever, if 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has indeed lost his motivation as a boxer.
Pacquiao said all the right things during the press conference for his Dec. 8 quadrilogy with nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, stating that he aims to bring the old, hungry Pacquiao in the ring, and will devote 8 full weeks of training at the Wild Card Gym for the fight. What day is it today? Do the math. Pacquiao’s 8-week pledge has gone out the window.
Even some of his closest friends doubt whether Pacquiao still has the fire inside him to be a boxer. “We all know that’s he’s wealthy now, and he has already achieve the ‘Pound-for-Pound’ title and everything he wanted to achieve. His ambitions may be in politics now, but as far as boxing, I don’t think he still has it anymore,” said Filipino boxing legend Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa in an interview with PTV Sports’ Snow Badua.
Video: Gerry Penalosa hints that Manny Pacquiao is not motivated with boxing anymore
Penalosa, who boxed until he was 38, and won his last world title just a few months before his 36th birthday, believe that Pacquiao is still in his prime in terms of age, but simply does not have the motivation anymore after already achieving everything he has set out for in the ring.
“Right now, Manny is still in his prime, but it depends if he’s still hungry and focused. He’s still young,” Penalosa said, and added, “he’s only 33. That’s still young, and he’s still in his prime, but the thing is, he may not have that hunger and desire anymore.”
As far as Penalosa is concerned, Pacquiao in his prime, is one of the greatest fighters ever, if not the greatest. “There’s nobody that can beat Manny Pacquiao in his prime. Pacquiao in his prime is hard to beat. He has it all – the courage, power, explosiveness – he’s something else… the real Manny Pacquiao,” Penalosa elaborated.
Penalosa did say that there is one thing, still, that can motivate Pacquiao. “I guess if he fights (Floyd) Mayweather. That will be a challenge for him.”
