Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is setting his sights on becoming the sport`s oldest ever champion, declaring that he “still has two or three fights left” in his remarkable career.
With a professional record boasting 62 wins from 72 bouts, Pacquiao holds a unique place in boxing history as the only fighter to capture world titles in eight different divisions.
He previously set a record in 2019, becoming the oldest welterweight champion at the age of 40.
Pacquiao briefly retired in 2021 after losing his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas.
However, next month, at 46 years old, he is scheduled to return from retirement to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship. Securing this title would make him the second-oldest champion in any weight class, trailing only Bernard Hopkins by three years.
Yet, Pacquiao expressed his ambition to surpass even that milestone, suggesting he plans to continue fighting long enough to potentially break the overall age record, potentially competing until he is close to 50.
Speaking at a media workout recently, he affirmed his intentions: “I think I have two or three more fights left.”
“I feel like I could do this for a couple of years,” he added. “But I`m just taking it one at a time.”
Pacquiao emphasized the historical significance of his upcoming bout. “My goal is to be the oldest champion and retire as a champion. This fight is very important to me because it`s history.”
“I believe I`d be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title, and I`d also break my own record as the oldest welterweight world champion,” he stated.
Following his retirement in 2021, Pacquiao participated in three exhibition matches.
He admitted that he missed the intensity and demands of professional fighting, which prompted his decision to return. “When I retired in 2021, it wasn’t a good feeling because I had it in my heart and my mind that I can still fight.”
“I’ve always known that I could still work hard and dedicate myself and focus on training. I’ve rested and now I’m back,” he continued.
Pacquiao feels confident in his current condition. “I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I’ve done before in training.”
“If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team,” he noted.
“Boxing is my passion. I’ve missed the sport. These last four years have been good for my body, because I’ve been doing this a long time. I feel like my passion and fire is back and you can see it in my work,” Pacquiao concluded.
Manny Pacquiao training, preparing to make history.
Graphic showing statistics for Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios.
A face-off between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios ahead of the legend`s return fight in Las Vegas reportedly highlighted a size difference between the two.
Oliver Croft