Pacquiao vows to revive ‘old self’ against Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines – As days close in on the highly-anticipated bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr on May 2 (May 3 in Manila), the Filipino boxing icon makes a promise that could ensure his victory over the unbeaten American boxer.

The 36-year-old southpaw vows to revive his gritty in-ring attitude and added that he would put everything on the line to guarantee his triumph against Mayweather.

“I have to be a warrior in the ring on May 2 and fight like it is the last fight of my life. I need to fight every round like each one is the last round of my life,” he told HBO.

Pacquiao, who has faced criticisms that he has neglected his boxing career and concentrated too much on his political career, said he is motivated to get the job done.

“For the past five years, this is the fight I have dreamed of and prayed for. And now that this fight is a reality, I am going to prove that it was worth the wait,” he stressed.

There had been numerous dialogues between Pacquiao and Mayweather in the past, but for several reasons, the talks always collapsed.

The first negotiations in 2009 fell through after Mayweather demanded Pacquiao to go through random blood testing up to the official weigh-in, which was initially turned down by the fighting congressman from Sarangani Province.

Mayweather offered Pacquiao $40 million for the bout in 2012, but boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king reportedly refused to give the latter a share of the pay-per-view revenue, which was deemed unfair by the renowned Pinoy pugilist.

Despite the numerous obstacles and delays, both camps finally sealed the deal in February following a chance meeting at an NBA game in Miami, Florida.

With nearly a week away from the heavily-hyped showdown with Mayweather, Pacquiao asserted that he is already in top shape and prepared to compete at a high level.

“I am in great condition now and I will be in the same peak condition as when I fought Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto,” he stated.

Pacquiao forced Oscar De La Hoya to retire after an eight-round stoppage in December 2008, while he routed Miguel Cotto via twelfth-round technical knockout in November 2009.

“Freddie Roach and I will be looking to add a lot of the strategy we used against De La Hoya and Cotto. It will be attack and pressure,” Pacquiao shared.

According to Pacquiao, he aims to dominate Mayweather from start to finish with his signature qualities as a fighter.

“The strategy is to make every round the fight. To win the fight, I must win each round. And to win each round, I must overwhelm him with speed, punch volume and power,” he mentioned.

Although he has not finished an opponent since his stoppage win over Cotto, Pacquiao promises to gun for a knockout if there will be an opportunity to shut the lights off.

“If the opportunity to knock Floyd out presents itself, I will take advantage of it,” he affirmed.

Even though odds are in favor of Mayweather, Pacquiao remains optimistic that he could pull off the improbable upset.

“I know what it will take to beat Floyd and I will leave no doubt that I won on May 2. None. That is the ‘Manny Pacquiao’ Floyd will face on May 2. It is time for Floyd to lose,” he warned. – Rappler.com