Photo by AP
BAGUIO CITY—Manny Pacquiao has found a reason to become the hungry and ruthless boxer he once was.
Pacquiao on Tuesday said his November 12 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez would be symbolic because he considers him as the last Mexican standing.
The boxing superstar vowed he would no longer be compassionate inside the ring.
“This time it’s different,” said the pound-for-pound king. “This would not be like the other [fights]. It would be a fight for national pride.”
Pacquiao made this statement after his eight-round sparring session with former two-time world champion Jorge Linares of Venezuela at the Shape Up gym here.
Linares, who is scheduled to fight Antonio DeMarco for the vacant World Boxing Council lightweight title in Los Angeles on October 15, also trains under Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach.
Showing he’s nearing tip-top shape, Pacquiao did seven rounds of mitt training with Roach after battling Linares.
Pacquiao said he would focus on improving his speed in the last few days of his training. He will close his training camp here Friday afternoon before heading for Manila.