Manny Pacquiao trains inside the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California on Saturday afternoon. Pacquiao and Bradley will be fighting for the third time on April 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA
HOLLYWOOD — Manny Pacquiao bounced around the ring at Wild Card Gym Saturday afternoon while shadow boxing, before raising both arms and yelling “for the Olympics!” He then spent the next two minutes talking about a stint in the Summer Games that never was — but could potentially be.
On the opposite end of the Olympic conversation was retired boxer Regilio Tuur, a former pro and a campaigner in the 1988 Summer Olympics, who was watching at the sidelines.
“I’m not like you who joined the Olympics,” Pacquiao, 37, told Tuur, loud enough for everyone present at the workout to hear. “Nobody [wanted to] get me before because I’m not good.”
Tuur yelled back: “You’re next champ, it’s your destiny.”
The Dutch boxer, who later posed for photos with Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach, believes that eight-division champion would thrive in the amateurs given his punching prowess.
“I think it’s no brainer. I think a regular pro would have a problem but Manny [will] not, because he throws many punches already. As pro, we choose our punches. Manny is a pro who throws as many punches as amateur that’s why Manny will do well.”
The prospect of donning the Philippine colors may be too tempting for Pacquiao, who turned pro at a young age of 16, that he is willing to rework his retirement plans.
Pacquiao has admitted that a u-turn from his previous statement that this would be his last fight is possible if indeed pros are eventually allowed into the Olympic stage.
“I’m not saying I’m going to fight or saying I’m not,” Pacquiao said in a story by Associated Press. “I’m not closing the door. I’m thinking about it.”
There’s not a doubt it had crossed his mind.
Even deep into his preparation for what could be his final fight as a pro, Pacquiao is thinking about the ultimate prize.
With the session winding down, Pacquiao teased onlookers about the possibility by shouting: “For the Philippines!” “Gold medal!”
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