Talent is timeless

All the talk during Manny Pacquiao’s open media workout on Wednesday afternoon (Thursday morning in Manila) revolved around the eight-division legend’s age.

At 46, it wasn’t easy to deflect observations that the Filipino icon could be too old to compete at world championship level.

Just a little over three weeks before colliding with Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council welterweight title in Las Vegas, Pacquiao displayed vintage moves before a sizable audience at the Wild Card Boxing Club.

Longtime trainer Buboy Fernandez shrugged off claims that his old pal is slipping.

“The speed, the power is still there,” he said as mediamen bombarded Pacquiao with questions concerning his age and his overall condition.

Like Pacquiao, Fernandez downplayed Barrios’ huge advantage in youth, saying everything’s getting settled in 19 July at the MGM Grand where the Hall of Fame figfhter made his debut 24 years ago.

“Don’t count the number of years but the number of punches he is going to throw,” he added.

Pacquiao is also not all to concerned about Barrios is just 30 and relatively fresh and sharp.

“Four years rest has been good for me,” Pacquiao said after showing off some impressive hand speed in an open pads session.

“I’ve been in boxing for so many decades, so it’s good for my body to rest for four years.”

“Now I’m back, I’m hungry to fight again. I’m hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that.”

“I’ve missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard — it’s still there.”

Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning.

“I’m fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I’m happy,” he said.

“I’m enjoying this training camp. There’s a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give my body time to rest and recover.”

Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, refused to be drawn on whether his comeback next month would be “one and done” or just the first step of a full-fledged return to the sport.

“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked about future bouts. “Now I’m back so one at a time, after this fight we can plan whatever we want.”

For some in boxing, however, Pacquiao’s return to the ring represents an unnecessary risk.

British promoter Eddie Hearn was the latest to cast doubt on the wisdom of the Filipino’s comeback earlier this month, predicting that the 30-year-old Barrios will be “too young and too strong” for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao smiled on Wednesday when asked for his response to Hearn’s remarks.

“Just watch on July 19th,” he said. “It will be a good fight.”

Pacquiao is the underdog in his first fight since August 2021 when he bowed to Cuban Yordenis Ugas.

Barrios, who ha a six-inch height advantage, will be making the second defense of the title.