Manny mania

During the years when he was inactive, Manny Pacquiao says he felt the itch to get back in the ring as he missed the trappings that came with it.

The media frenzy.

The thrill and excitement of the training camp.

And the nervous anticipation during fight week.

So, during the seemingly-endless Q&A sessions, the 46-year-old Pacquiao spoke about the rush of excitement leading to a big fight like the one he will take part in on 19 July.

“I’ve been boxing for many years, and even the years I wasn’t boxing, I was still thinking about boxing. I even have a boxing gym in my house and was always working out. I really missed boxing,” Pacquiao said during the Los Angeles leg Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) of the two-city media tour for his bold bid to dethrone Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’ve been through so many big fights in my career and I’m still here. I’m back… it would mean a lot for me to become world champion again. Manny Pacquiao is always giving surprises to the fans. That’s my passion and it’s really important to me… I’m the challenger, so I know I have to go the extra mile and punish myself in training to win the fight. That’s the goal.”

Last time he fought, Pacquiao suffered a loss at the hands of Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021.

Since then, Pacquiao has engaged in two exhibition matches in Korea and in Japan.

Barrios, younger by 16 years at 30, can’t help but praise his legendary opponent, saying things that one would associate with someone working in diplomacy.

“I have nothing but respect for him outside of the ring,” said the six-foot banger from San Antonio, Texas.

“There’s nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring,” Barrios said of Pacquiao.

“He’s a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it’s kill or be killed.”

“And I know if at any point he hurts me, you know he’s going to get me out of there. So, I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight.”

When the bell rings, Barrios swears he won’t hold back.

“But inside the ring, he’s just another man who’s trying to take what’s mine. I’m the champion for a reason and I’m gonna show that… I’ve been seeing people face off with Manny at press conferences like this since I was a kid. He’s not very serious, except when he’s in the ring. I know he’s gonna bring it when we get in the ring.”

Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month’s fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter’s comeback as “low risk.”

“Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring,” Sulaiman said.

“Manny has rested his body for four years. He’s not a drinker. He’s not a drug user. He’s a family man that has taken care of himself. So, of the different aspects of dangers, he’s at the lowest risk.”

Oddsmakers have installed Barrios as the heavy betting favorite and it’s easy to see why.

But then again, Pacquiao has managed to pull a rabbit from his hat and that’s what he is attempting to accomplish next month. WITH AFP