MOST boxers of a certain age tend to slow down especially in the hardest aspect of fighting, which is training.
Not Manny Pacquiao.
At 39 years old, the eight-division world champion still has that burning desire and dedication that he had when he was in his physical prime.
“He’s very quick and very hardworking in training. We even tell him to stop because he doesn’t stop,” one of Pacquiao’s coaches, Nonito Donaire Sr., told SunStar Cebu.
Pacquiao is deep in training in Gen. Santos City for his ring return against World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse on July 15 in the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“He’s very much ready,” said Donaire Sr.
Donaire Sr., who developed his son Nonito Donaire Jr. into a world champion, was tapped by Pacquiao after a revamp of his coaching staff for his upcoming fight. Instead of long-time trainer Freddie Roach, childhood friend Buboy Fernandez took on the lead trainer role.
“I have held the punch mitts for a lot of heavy-hitters but he’s different. His punches are fast and crisp. We get tired of switching places on the mitts because he’s very fast,” said Donaire Sr.
Pacquiao is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Aussie Jeff Horn last July 2 in the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
The 36-year-old Matthysse, on the other hand, has won his last two fights - a fifth round stoppage of Emmanuel Taylor last year and an eighth round knockout of previously unbeaten Tewa Kiram last January.
Donaire Sr. believes that Pacquiao has the edge against the younger Matthysse.
“Manny has the advantage in speed,” he said. “He’s also a very smart fighter. “ (EKA)