Peñalosa vouches for Pacquiao’s power

Though often dismissed as not being the best fighter in his division, Manny Pacquiao is very much capable of messing up anyone’s tactics and strategy, according to a major backer of the Filipino legend.

Two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa swears even if Pacquiao is turning 42 on 17 December, he remains a solid opponent.

Currently holding the World Boxing Association welterweight crown, Pacquiao is regarded as the third-best 147-pounder nowadays, next to Errol Spence of the International Boxing Federation and Terence Crawford of the World Boxing Organization.

But Peñalosa insists even these guys will have their hands full and on extreme alert mode the moment they get into the ring with Pacquiao.

“It’s been said that they’re fresher and younger and are naturally bigger but Senator Manny is different,” said Peñalosa, who briefly sparred with a fast-rising Pacquiao in the mid-1990s.

“Once they feel his power, they suddenly change their styles.”

Last time Pacquiao was in the ring was a year and half ago when he dealt Keith Thurman, ten years his junior, his very first loss.

While he remained inactive boxing-wise, Pacquiao always made it a point to work out and flex his muscles on a regular basis.

During the height of the lockdown, Pacquiao asked that a punching bag be installed in his swanky Dasmariñas Village home so he can train.

“He makes sure he is always fit and never out-of-shape,” Peñalosa added.

Pacquiao is eyeing to fight in the first quarter of 2021 and he doesn’t care if either one of the unbeaten duo of Spence or Crawford is standing in the opposite corner.