“Manny isn’t training this hard to say goodbye. It’s to prove he’s still here!”
Eight-division world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has no use for a rearview mirror, at least when it comes to his illustrious boxing career, so says his Hall of Fame trainer of 20 years, world-famous Freddie Roach. Today Manny, 42, begins his final week of training camp, at Hollywood, California-based Wild Card Boxing Club, for his August 21 challenge of undefeated unified WBC/IBF welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr.
Spence, who is 11 years younger and over four inches taller than Manny, is, arguably, Manny’s biggest fight, in a boxing lifetime made up of big boxing events and spectacular victories.
“Manny doesn’t need to play his golden oldies. He is still producing new hits,” said Freddie. “He hasn’t cut one corner in training camp. Not one. He runs up the hills in Griffith Park straight to the Hollywood sign. He crunches thousands of sit-ups daily. He spars three days each week and hits every bag on the gym floor with bad intentions every day. He is still the hardest worker I have ever trained and an eager student. He wants this one more than anything. Manny isn’t training this hard to say goodbye. It’s to prove he’s still here. Philippine politics might influence when Manny hangs up his gloves. Maybe this is Manny’s last fight. But this summer, he has been training for his greatest victory, and for Manny, that is saying something. It’s the stuff that greatness is made of.”
I think the question is…Will Manny turn “old” in one night against Spence? The term “old” can be examined in so many ways.
That not an excuse I’m hearing is it?
No excuse, simply an intangible that one could consider as a major factor in the outcome of the fight. I worry this is the fight we may see Manny struggle with his age going into the later rounds of the fight. I chose Spence on a UD.
Manny is one of the very few fighters that love to fight against the best of the best without ducking anyone. True Warrior and boxing legend. Canelo should take note of Pacquiao instead of trying to cheat his opponents.
So not true! Manny fought a lot of fighters coming off a devastating loss. He’s fighting Spence instead of Crawford because of the car accident that knocked Spence out.
And Manny fights them when they are still at their best.
Hairs on my neck began to stand as I read that.
if pacquioa wins tell canelo to go down 152 pounds to set up a pacquioa vs canelo mega fight this fight could make billions!!
I don’t think Canelo could make 52 even if he wanted. But damn! All things bring equal, Manny a little younger and Canelo at that weight…..WOW!! Would’ve loved to see Manny vs TITO in his prime as well!!
How is Pacman able to compete in his 40s when Duran Hearns Leonard were such diminshed fighters by that age? Most fighters today are juicing according to Paulie Malinaggi & I tend to agree. Gotta make public the T levels on fighters .
The simplest answer of all, genetics, Dovid.
With Leonard it was cocaine. Duran it was fast living and letting himself get out of shape. Hearns got punchy after his KO defeats. Paulie can talk all he wants but so much is known now about diet and training. Manny is most likely going to get handles here since he is 42 and has been inactive for 2 years. Manny really hasn’t had great wins lately either. Thurman was perpetually inactive, Broner is perpetually disappointing. Matthyse, Algeri, Rios, Vargas all guys that weren’t going to win
“Time takes no prisoners”
Age will catch Manny, the question is simply when. It caught Bernard finally, and everyone thought he was ageless. When it finally catches Manny, I expect the end to be as dramatic as Bernard’s.
If Pacquiao wins, unless Pacquiao gets a big matchup set up with Vergil Ortiz Jr., might as well defend against the mandatory in the IBF, Kudratillo Abdukakhorov, who is also number 9 in the WBC. Abdukakhorov has been the IBF mandatory for almost 2.5 years.
I really believe if manny wins this fight, he will retire
Manny Pacquiao is in the top 3 of all time along with Sugar Ray Robinson and Willie Pep He is my favorite of all time and by far the most intertaining ever..
manny keeps in shape 365 days a year, this prolongs a boxing career. its the lazy guys who gain 30-40-70 pounds in the ‘off season’ who age quickly
I hope I’m wrong, but I think Spence will dispense (no pun intended) of Manny. Might even stop him. Like I said, I hope against hope that I’m wrong. Being an old coot myself, I like to see the older fighters win, as long as it’s legit. But I think Spence is just too young and talented to lose to Manny. I also think Manny might end up as president of the Philippine Islands one of the days. I know he’s got an eye on it.
Good point on Manny’s intentions to become President. I think part of the reason Manny is still fighting is to keep his name in the eyes of Filipinos. The elections are next year and Manny wants the job.
Manny is an idol in his homeland. Filipinos love boxing probably as much as Mexicans. And that is saying something.
Winning this fight would assist his Presidential prospects.
I agree! Spence jr. is not only talented, but above all strong, powerful and resilient. I think he is too much for today’s Pacquiao and it cannot be ruled out that there will be a stoppage.
Bookies have taken a lot of money on Pac-Man – a lot
Sounds like a team that has self-doubt. If they’re certain Manny will be victorious why are they talking about a “goodbye” fight.
Spence is a bad style for Manny and they all know it.
Go Manny!!!
MANNY MIGHT NOT BEAT SPENCE… BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN HE’S FINISHED… AFTER ALL HE’S GOING AFTER A YOUNGER UNDEFEATED CHAMPION… IF HE LOSES HE WILL PROBABLY FIGHT AGAIN AGAINST A LESSER OPPONENT… DOES THAT MEAN HE’S LOST IT OF COURSE NOT JUST MEANS HE’S GETTING OLDER AND A LITTLE LESSER THAN HE WAS AND THAT’S ALL IT MEANS… DOESN’T MEAN HE GOT OLD OVER NIGHT!!!!
I give Manny the edge in this fight for several reasons:
– Manny has faster hands and feet than Spence, even if he is slower than he used to be. Manny doesn’t have to have the same speed he had when younger. He simply needs to be faster than Spence.
– Manny throws 100 plus punches per round, from all different angles. It’s so many punches that Errol can’t possibly block them all.
– Errol comes to fight and does not dance around the ring. Therefore, he will be an easier target to hit.
– Manny has excellent in-and-out foot movement.
– Manny’s punches have enough pop that he can hurt Errol and he is an excellent finisher.
All this confidence and positive reports from Freddy and his team may make Spence unconfortable if not worry. Please try to keep a low profile of how good “The Pacman” is looking. We don’t want any late cancelations from the Spence camp because of feeling that they might need more time to get ready for Manny.
Pacquiuao the Tom Brady of Boxing…