Latest news with #MannyPacquiao
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Manny Pacquiao says return to boxing goes beyond comeback fight: 'The book of politics is closed'
LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao says he is done with politics, and he's back in boxing to stay. Pacquiao's ring return at 46 years old is not just for one farewell bout, either: The former eight-division world champion intends to fight on indefinitely. 'Right now, the book of politics is closed,' Pacquiao told The Associated Press on Tuesday in Los Angeles. 'It's not even in my mind. I'm focusing on my career as a boxer again.'
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Manny Pacquiao says return to boxing goes beyond comeback fight: 'The book of politics is closed'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Pacquiao says he is done with politics, and he's back in boxing to stay. Pacquiao's ring return at 46 years old is not just for one farewell bout, either: The former eight-division world champion intends to fight on indefinitely. 'Right now, the book of politics is closed,' Pacquiao told The Associated Press on Tuesday in Los Angeles. 'It's not even in my mind. I'm focusing on my career as a boxer again.' The comeback starts July 19, when Pacquiao returns from a four-year layoff and attempts to break his own record by becoming the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history. The former senator and presidential candidate in his native Philippines will take on WBC champ Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. As Pacquiao's fame and fortune grew in the previous decade, he added a second career as a politician to his already busy life. He was a senator from 2016 until 2022, when he finished third in the Philippines' presidential election. He ran to reclaim a seat in the Senate this year, but finished 18th in the midterm elections. After that defeat last month, Pacquiao quickly announced plans to return to the ring — and now that he's back in Los Angeles training with Freddie Roach, Pacquiao made it clear that he wishes he never left boxing. 'I can still do my job in boxing,' Pacquiao said. 'I'm not done yet. The fire, the determination, the eagerness to train and work hard, it's still there. It's amazing.' Pacquiao hasn't fought since losing a decision to Yordenis Ugás in August 2021, but he says he dearly missed the sport from the moment he stepped away. He beams when he speaks about honing his craft with Roach, the fun of working out each day with his extensive team — and even the promotional publicity tasks that go along with being one of the most famous athletes on the planet. 'That moment when I announced I was hanging up my gloves four years ago, I was so sad,' Pacquiao said. 'I couldn't avoid the tears coming out of my eyes. I really missed boxing. For however many months, I was like, 'I'm not a boxer anymore?'' He filled the time away with nonstop sports endeavors at his Philippines estate, where he has a full boxing gym, a covered basketball court, a tennis court and facilities for badminton, pickleball and tennis. He also ran in his huge backyard, staying in shape on the one-kilometer expanse. Pacquiao claims his famed hand speed and athleticism are still there, and he feels refreshed after four years of not getting hit. But Pacquiao also realizes his fans could be worried about a comeback because of his unimpressive effort against Ugás, who soundly outboxed him four years ago. Pacquiao says he was undone in 2021 by numerous distractions — his imminent presidential run, a hefty lawsuit filed against him by a management company, and even an ill-advised massage shortly before the bout that left him painfully sore on fight night. 'I was so bothered,' he said. 'I did a lot of things that aren't good for me.' Pacquiao will interrupt his training this week only for a celebration of his career: He will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this weekend in upstate New York, and then he'll return to Roach's Wild Card Gym. Pacquiao's return bout will be seen worldwide on Amazon Prime pay-per-view, and he seems likely to capture an audience of fans who remember his incredible prime. Pacquiao had his first professional fight in January 1995, four months before Barrios was born. 'He's a hard guy to dislike,' Barrios said. 'A legend is going to be across from me. I have all the respect for him outside the ring, but inside the ring, he's just another man trying to take what's mine.' Pacquiao was jovial and excited throughout the news conference at a theater in downtown Los Angeles, radiating a youthful vigor while promoting a card stacked with fighters from another generation. He seems confident he can carry that energy into the ring against Barrios. But Pacquiao also has firsthand experience of the ugliness that can consume fighters who hang on a bit too long. After all, he moved up two weight classes and ended the decorated career of Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008, stopping the Golden Boy after eight one-sided rounds. Pacquiao says his fans shouldn't worry. He's back where he belongs. 'I returned because I missed boxing,' he said. 'I hope I can entertain you guys.' ___ AP boxing:
Arab News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
‘Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
LOS ANGELES, United States: Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamor of championship boxing had prompted his return. 'I'm returning because I miss my boxing,' Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. 'Especially these situations — being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. 'I missed that. But it has been good for me — I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back.' Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. 'I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'' Pacquiao said. 'That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago — I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes.' Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. 'I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house — I have complete sport facilities in my house — that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power,' he said. Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. 'I'm thankful for them for their concern,' Pacquiao told AFP. 'But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style.' Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as 'low risk.' 'Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring,' Sulaiman said. 'Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk.' Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. 'There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring,' Barrios said of Pacquiao. 'He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. 'And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao (left) faces off against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios ahead of his comeback next month (Patrick T. Fallon) Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Advertisement Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. Advertisement "I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said. "That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago -- I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes." Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. "I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house -- I have complete sport facilities in my house -- that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said. Advertisement - 'Low-risk' comeback - Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. "I'm thankful for them for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. Advertisement WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as "low risk". "Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring," Sulaiman said. "Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk." Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. "There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring," Barrios said of Pacquiao. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. Advertisement "And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight." rcw/js
The Independent
11 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Manny Pacquiao shares realisation and ‘perfect' news that inspired comeback
Manny Pacquiao has shared the revelation that inspired his return to professional boxing after a four-year absence, as the 46-year-old prepares to face Mario Barrios. On 19 July, Pacquiao will challenge Barrios, 30, for the WBC welterweight title, aiming to break his own record as the division's oldest-ever world champion. Pacquiao set the current record at 40 years old, when he beat Keith Thurman in 2019, while his most recent pro bout was a loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. The Filipino icon has not boxed professionally since, though he fought kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition last summer. 'I like making history, it's nice,' a smiling Pacquiao told ESPN this week. 'I always stay in shape, but once I started seriously working out again, I realised that I still had that passion and ability in me. 'I went to my doctor and everything was perfect. My medicals came back great. I feel good, and I'm ready to do it again. 'I trained wrong for that [Ugas] fight. My legs began cramping, and I couldn't move. He was a very slow opponent, and I couldn't believe that I couldn't move my feet or my legs. But for this camp, I'm back with my longtime trainer, Freddie Roach. The old Manny will be back. 'It's hard to say right now [if I'll box again after the Barrios bout]. It's one fight at a time. Once I get through this, we can talk about the next fight.' WBC rules state that all title holders must defend their belts against a 'Qualified Challenger', including any former WBC champion. As such, Pacquiao, who recently re-entered the WBC rankings at No 5, is eligible for a title shot against Barrios. Pacquiao, who will enter the Las Vegas fight with Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) with a pro record of 62-8-2 (39 KOs), is widely considered one of boxing 's all-time greats. He is the sport's only eight-weight world champion. He is also known for his political endeavours in his home country of the Philippines, where he served as a senator from 2016 until 2022. He also ran for president in 2022 but was unsuccessful, and last month came up short in a senatorial race.
