world boxing

Pacquiao leaves for US training versus Spence

Roy Luarca

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Pacquiao leaves for US training versus Spence

FINAL FIGHT? At 42, Manny Pacquiao still can't say if this will be his farewell bout.

Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

Back in shape, Manny Pacquiao begins the final phase of his preparations for a blockbuster encounter with unbeaten Errol Spence in Hollywood

Preparing his weary body for the tougher grind ahead, Manny Pacquiao skipped training and headed out to Los Angeles Saturday night, July 3.

After getting back into shape in General Santos City, Pacquiao will begin the final phase of his preparations for a blockbuster encounter with unscathed Errol Spence at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on Monday, July 5 (Tuesday, July 6, Philippine time).

Pacquiao is aiming for Spence’s World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation bantamweight crowns on August 21 as the World Boxing Association has yet to reinstall him as its Super 147-pound champion.

“I cannot say this is my last fight or if there would be another one. It could be, but we’ll take it one at a time,” Pacquiao, in a virtual press conference on Saturday, said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Bucking the odds, Pacquiao bested the then-unbeaten Keith Thurman by unanimous decision on July 20, 2019, to become the oldest welterweight champion ever at 40 years old.

Now 42 and away from the ring for nearly two years, Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 knockouts) wants to cement his legacy by tangling with the younger, fresher, bigger Spence (27-0, 21 knockouts), widely regarded as top three in the current pound-for-pound list, in a pay-per-view bout to be aired by Showtime.

Pacquiao, who did some rounds of sparring with lanky Filipino welterweight Jayar Inson, spent his last day of training in GenSan on Friday under the supervision of Buboy Fernandez and assistant trainers Nonoy Neri, Jonathan Penalosa and Haplas Fernandez.

According to Neri, Pacquiao is about 70% ready for Spence, who’ll be enjoying a 4-inch height and 5-inch reach advantage in the 12-rounder to be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Roach will take over the lead role in Pacquiao’s training with Justin Fortune supervising the physical conditioning of the eight-division world champion.

As Spence is noted for his brute strength, Pacquiao’s training in the United States will be focused on enhancing his speed and building up his stamina. – Rappler.com

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