Two months from now, a boxing legend will end his four-year-long exile to face a reigning world champion. Yes, we’re talking about Manny Pacquiao. Boxing’s only eight-division champion is all set to return on July 19. Following a retirement that commenced after the unanimous loss to Yordenis Ugas, the ‘PacMan’ will face WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.
Talks of Pacquiao’s comeback always lingered. But now that it’s almost confirmed, the news encountered a mixed bag of reactions. The sport just saw a 58-year-old Mike Tyson take on Jake Paul. And the response hadn’t been the most encouraging either. Of course, Pacquiao won’t be the first boxer who returned from retirement to run what’s possibly the last stretch of the race. Quite understandably, those who know him closely are quite ecstatic. Justin Fortune had been a strength and conditioning coach to Pacquiao for close to 60 odd championships. During an interaction with sports reporter Eli Seckbach, the Australia-born fitness coach who famously fought Lennox Lewis spilled a few beans.
Seckbach caught up with Fortune and lightweight fighter Giovanni Cabrera during a downtime. He asked, “What do you guys think of him (Pacquiao) and Barrios? ESPN says it’s official.” Fortune had no doubts. To him, Manny Pacquiao’s most famous attributes, power and speed, were still intact.
Boxing: Pacquiao vs Ugas, Aug 21, 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada Manny Pacquiao is pictured before the start of a world welterweight championship bout against Yordenis Ugas at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports, 21.08.2021 21:09:21, 16621698, Manny Pacquiao, Boxing, T-Mobile Arena PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 16621698
Acknowledging Barrios’ stature as a world champion, Fortune admitted, “Yeah, it’s a good fight.” He also pointed out that Barrios shared Cabrera’s height, which is around 5’9″. But in the same breath he added, “Pacquiao’s still strong, fast, and very experienced.”
Giovanni Cabrera made his pitch: “Yeah, I mean, most orthodox fighters, it doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, it’s all about the angle. When Manny Pacquiao slips and pops that left hand, deal with that, deal with that…. If George Foreman did it, then Pacquiao can do it.”
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