On a hot July day in Hollywood, a crowd gathers outside Nat Thai Food, located in the Freddie Roach Square shopping center. People are not only looking for the delicious food; they are waiting for the arrival of Manny Pacquiao, the only world boxing champion in eight divisions, a political figure, and the most famous athlete in the Philippines.
Pacquiao, known for frequenting this restaurant after training at Roach’s legendary Wild Card Boxing gym, returns to a familiar place. Four years have passed since he trained there, and the anticipation is palpable.
The fans display photos and boxing gloves, eager to see the legend in action. His return to the ring against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas is imminent.
“I’m coming back because boxing is my passion. It’s the only thing I think about and I really like to make history,” Pacquiao declared.
Manny PacquiaoAt 46 years old, Pacquiao seeks to break his own record as the oldest boxer to win a world welterweight title. An achievement he already obtained by defeating Keith Thurman at 40 years old in 2019.
On June 8th, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and if he defeats Barrios, he would become the first boxer to win a major world title after his induction.Manny Pacquiao, campeón de boxeo en ocho divisiones, ha boxeado profesionalmente desde enero de 1995.In the Wild Card gym, under the watchful eye of Freddie Roach, Pacquiao prepares for this fight. Roach, who has trained champions like Miguel Cotto and Amir Khan, observes with the same passion he felt in 2001, when Pacquiao, then unknown, asked him to be his trainer.
“In May 2001, we went to San Francisco just for vacation and stayed for about a month and a half. But we ended up visiting some gyms in the Bay Area. Then we took a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles and asked if there was a boxing gym and they pointed us to the Wild Card,” recalled Pacquiao.
Roach was impressed from the first moment. Less than a week later, Pacquiao accepted a fight with only two weeks’ notice against Lehlo Ledwaba for the IBF super featherweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.The commentator Jim Lampley recalls how Pacquiao, with difficulties expressing himself in English, conveyed his message. That night, Pacquiao surprised everyone by defeating Ledwaba in the sixth round, winning his second world title in eight weight categories.
“Once Manny beat Ledwaba, Wild Card seemed like the headquarters of the Manny Pacquiao fan club,” Roach recounted. “His fans are friendly but relentless. They would gather in the parking lot to see him when he arrived, have lunch next door, buy t-shirts, and leave. It’s really amazing what happens here when Manny is in town to train for a fight.”
Twenty-four years later, fans continue to show their support, and Pacquiao, with the same determination, prepares for the fight.
“I feel like I’m starting over. I’m so passionate and the fire is burning inside me again. The other day I did 30 rounds of sparring and Freddie had to intervene to stop me from training,” Pacquiao said.
Manny Pacquiao
However, the challenge is considerable: a 46-year-old boxer, coming out of retirement, seeking a world championship. Pacquiao explains that the four years allowed him to recover physically and focus on his political career in the Philippines.Chris Algieri, Pacquiao’s former rival, suggests that a preparation fight could have been beneficial. In his last fight against Ugas, Pacquiao seemed less explosive, connecting only 16% of his punches. Pacquiao attributed his performance to external distractions and physical problems.
“I wasn’t really 100% focused because I had an ongoing lawsuit with Paradigm Sports Management. There were a lot of distractions and I was bothered throughout the training camp. On the night of the fight, I couldn’t move because I was getting leg cramps, and that disappointed me because Ugas was the easiest opponent of my career. I lost only because I couldn’t move the way I wanted to,” explained Pacquiao.
Jim Lampley acknowledges that, although logic suggests possible deterioration, Pacquiao is capable of defying expectations.
Pacquiao takes a significant risk by facing a younger and more powerful opponent, but considers it calculated, motivated by the opportunity he saw in Barrios’ recent fights.Algieri believes Barrios is a suitable opponent for Pacquiao, as his style could favor the Filipino.
Barrios, upon learning that Pacquiao had chosen him, felt both respect and distrust, understanding that his title was at stake.
To return, Pacquiao had the support of his wife, Jinkee, who had asked for his retirement on several occasions.
“She could see that I still had that fire inside me. I told her I could beat Barrios and asked her what she thought. She said, ‘Yes, you can fight him. If that’s your opponent, show me you can fight’”, Pacquiao recounted.
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao, known for his surprises, hopes to provide another one to his fans.Pacquiao, who began his professional career in 1995, has constantly defied expectations, accumulating world titles and demonstrating his offensive power.
For his fight with Barrios, he returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where he built his legacy. There, he hopes to create more memories and add another world title to his impressive career.
“I love making history there. I have so many great memories and I never imagined after 24 years that I would return to the MGM to win another world title. That’s nothing but a blessing from God,” Pacquiao said.
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao’s future after this fight is uncertain, but if he achieves a new triumph, will he retire or start another unexpected chapter in his career?
“It’s hard to say what tomorrow holds. I always leave it to God, and he gave me the opportunity to fight again. But if my body feels strong after this fight…”, Pacquiao concluded.
