Manny Pacquiao, 46, looks to become boxing’s oldest ever champion as legend says ‘I have two or three fights left’

MANNY PACQUIAO is looking to become boxing’s oldest ever champion, declaring: “I still have two or three fights left.”

Pacquiao won 62 of his 72 professional bouts and remains the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.

In 2019 he set new records as the oldest welterweight champion ever aged 40.

Pacquiao retired two years later as he lost his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas.

But next month he is stepping out of retirement to take on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship aged 46.

Winning it would make him the second-oldest champ in any division, three years behind Bernard Hopkins.

But Pacquiao is looking to set the record himself by insisting he still has several fights left — taking him to the ripe old age of 50.

Speaking at a media workout today, he declared: “I think I have two or three more fights left.

“I feel like I could do this for a couple of years. But I’m just taking it one at a time.

“My goal is to be the oldest champion and retire as a champion. This fight is very important to me because it’s history.

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“I believe I’d be the first Hall of Famer to win another world title, and I’d also break my own record as the oldest welterweight world champion.”

After retiring in 2021, Pacquiao had three exhibition bouts.

But he admits he missed the feel of a proper slog, leading him to perform a U-turn.

He added: “When I retired in 2021, it wasn’t a good feeling because I had it in my heart and my mind that I can still fight.

“I’ve always known that I could still work hard and dedicate myself and focus on training. I’ve rested and now I’m back.

“I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I’ve done before in training. 

“If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team.

“Boxing is my passion. I’ve missed the sport. These last four years have been good for my body, because I’ve been doing this a long time. I feel like my passion and fire is back and you can see it in my work.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk