Manny Pacquiao shows off his abdominal muscle after training 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
LAS VEGAS — He witnessed his friend transform from a scrawny 16-year-old boxer to one of the most celebrated boxers of all time. Buboy Fernandez and Manny Pacquiao have been pals a long time and there are hardly secrets between them.
“I know my friend. If he’s going to make a move, he’s going to tell me,” Fernandez said as the inevitable issue of Pacquiao’s possible retirement after Saturday came up anew.
Fernandez, who had been with Pacquiao way before other members of his still growing entourage have, is not convinced that his buddy is having up his gloves just yet. Otherwise, he would have known.
“I know him. If he’s going to do something, he’s going to tell me. He doesn’t hide anything,” Fernandez said. “So far, he hasn’t said anything [to me].”
Pacquiao is stepping in the ring Saturday night in what many believe is his final hurrah, a chance to leave a the sport that has made him a global sensation with a resounding victory.
But if it were up to Fernandez, Pacquiao wouldn’t be mulling retirement at the age of 37.
“For me, he’s too young to retire.”
As a new battle in a different arena—this time in the national polls—draws near, Fernandez, however, wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao sticks with his decision for now.
“He’s facing a big challenge, a different life. He needs to focus on that if he gets lucky to get elected,” Fernandez said. “He’s the only one who know when he’s going to rest.”
Until he hears his friend tell him he’s quiting the sport for good, all Fernandez could do is make sure Pacquiao makes his next fight count.
“Let’s talk about how we’re going to defeat Bradley. So we can go go to the Philippines in good spirits. They can see how Pacquiao has helped our countrymen.”
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