Pacman to retire a champ
November 5, 2006 The Bohol Standard
FILIPINO ring idol Manny Pacquiao, who battles legendary Mexican Erik “The Terrible One†Morales in what may well be a career-defining rubber match at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Nov. 18, said he wants to quit boxing when he is still a champion.
“I want to retire when I am still healthy and a champion so that I can enjoy life,†said Pacquiao answering a question on how much longer he intended to keep on fighting.
Pacquiao, the current World Boxing Council international super featherweight champion, is looking at winning the title that could come in a re-match tentatively planned for next March against WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.
Barrera said he was looking forward to avenging his November 2003 demolition by Pacquiao and claimed he was distracted by a number of pre-fight issues that hurt him and caused him to lose the fight.
Pacquiao has refused to talk about a Barrera re-match while in intense training for the grand finale with Morales, saying he was not looking past Morales and would only decide after the Nov. 18 showdown.
Emerging ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom†Bautista, who has resumed training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach, along with trainer Edito “Ala†Villamor, met Pacquiao and watched his workout.
“Nakita ko kanina at grabe ang kanyang condition, parang hindi napapagod sa kanyang practice,†Villamor said.
Asked what he wished for in life, Pacquiao said: “I still have many dreams in life and there are many things that I have not done because I started out as a boxer at a very young age.â€
Pacquiao began his professional career when he was 16 years old and figured prominently on the weekly boxing show “Blow by Blow†promoted by Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar.
In a message to his millions of Filipino fans, Pacquiao said: “Sana po, ipagpatuloy ninyo akong ipagdasal na sana ay manalo ulit tayo sa Nov. 18. Kayo pong lahat ay aking inspirasyon at para sa inyo ang laban na ito. Sana po, manood kayong lahat sa laban ko. Maraming salamat.â€
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