BOXING-PACQUIAO INTERVIEW: Manny Pacquiao relishing fighting younger opponent

Record ID: 708140

  • Title: BOXING-PACQUIAO INTERVIEW: Manny Pacquiao relishing fighting younger opponent
  • Date: 26th October 2014
  • Summary: MACAU, CHINA (NOVEMBER 21, 2013) (REUTERS) BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO SPARRING WITH COACH FREDDY ROACH
  • Embargoed: 10th November 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACKX4DHTAFLSPHOGDDNSRHZYNB
  • Story Text: Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao says his preparations are going well for his defence of his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight title against undefeated American Chris Algieri in Macau on November 22.
    "Training so far is good," he said on a visit to Hong Kong on Sunday (October 26). "We're in heavy training right now because it's four weeks to go before the fight."
    The November bout will come a year since Pacquiao claimed a unanimous decision victory over USA's Brandon Rios and he will fight in the same venue as last year in Macau.
    The 35-year-old Pacquiao will be fighting 30-year-old Algieri, a former kick-boxer and WBO light welterweight title-holder.
    Pacquiao said he was looking forward to the fight next month.
    "I feel OK. I'm excited for the fight. Especially I'm going to fight someone younger than me so it's good," he said.
    Boxing writers questioned Pacquiao's commitment in newspapers last week after he took part in a basketball match as player-coach of KIA-Sorento, but the Filipino has batted away any criticism.
    "I showing why I did that, because I'm showing that to be an example for the people, a role model for the people, we have a lot of things to do," Pacquiao said.
    "We are people we can do a lot of things. Just don't limit your mind or your body to do just the one sport."
    The eight-division champion, who is also a congressman in the Philippines House of Representatives, would not be drawn on who he would fight after Algieri or whether he wants to devote more time to politics.
    "Next for me is to continue fighting and continue serving the people and serving the Lord," he said, before adding "and continue as a coach of basketball."
    At the age of 35 the champion must be in the later stages of his boxing career, but Pacquiao said he was not thinking of retirement from boxing yet.
    "Retire from boxing. Of course, we cannot stay long in boxing. There's a certain time. But retiring from boxing right now is not in my mind because I can still fight," he said before turning the question around and suggesting he had thought about leaving politics.
    "But I'm talking about the politics, I'm sometimes thinking of that, but who will serve honestly if I retire?"
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