Pacquiao, ‘di pa magreretiro kung papayag sa rematch si Mayweather.
Muling iginiit ni eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao na siya ang tunay na nagwagi sa kanilang laban ni dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. noong nakaraang Mayo 2 sa Las Vegas, Nevada dahil walang ginawa ang Amerikano kundi tumakbo, yumakap at manggulang sa ibabaw ng lonang parisukat.
Sa ikalawang press conference kahapon na ginanap sa New York City kaugnay sa laban nila ni WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley sa Abril 9, nilinaw ni Pacquiao sa BoxingScene.com na nagpa-check up na siya sa inoperahang kanang balikat at binigyan na ng go-signal para magsanay sa ilalim ni Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
Iginiit din ng Pinoy boxer na huling laban na niya ang paghamon kay Bradley ngunit magbabalik siya sa ring kung magkakaroon ng rematch kay Mayweather.
“(Mayweather) retired already, so I’m going to retire also after this fight,” diin ni Pacquiao. “I never regret. In fact, I thought I won the fight. A lot of people, my fans, believe I won the fight. ... I know (it’s time to retire) because after this, I have another big responsibility in the Philippines, which is serving the people. My family wanted me to retire before I fought Mayweather. I started this boxing just to help my mother, and I’ll end my boxing career to help the country.”
Ipinagtanggol din ni Pacquiao ang ikatlong laban kay Bradley lalo’t mayroon silang tig-isang panalo sa isa’t isa noong 2012 at 2014.
“I think it’s good to have the third fight. This is going to be a good fight, better than the last two fights we had. We know Bradley is improving and learning new things,” ani Pacquiao. “We considered Adrien Broner before this fight was made. Khan, Bradley, Marquez, and the rematch with Floyd. I chose Bradley because he is a different and improved fighter now. I am impressed with his performance. He knocked [Rios] out with body shots. We know Brandon Rios is hard to knock because he has a strong chin and legs. I think Brandon Rios underestimated Bradley.”
Sa laban kay Mayweather, iginiit ni Pacquiao na lumala ang pinsala ng kanyang kanang balikat nang tamaan niya sa 4th round ang Amerikano.
“I never regret anything about that fight. Before the fight, I didn’t feel anything on my shoulder but it happened in the fourth round. I felt something when I threw a combination. I lost my right hand,” ani Pacquiao.“I think my shoulder has improved now. I am confidently throwing my right hand.”
Inamin din ni Pacquiao na huling laban na niya ito para maasikaso naman ang kanyang karerang pampulitika at hindi siya nagsisisi na iwanan ang boksing.
“This will be the last camp of my career and everything will be the same like before. I will miss training, fighting in the ring, and going to other places to promote the fight. I am so happy and blessed on what I have accomplished in boxing. That is enough for me to enjoy my life and be satisfied with what I have. I want to thank everyone for their support,” dagdag ni Pacquiao. “I want that clear victory for this fight. I am not saying I am going to knock him out but you know what happened the last fight. They don’t want to accept that they lost that last fight. I will do my best to prove that Manny Pacquiao is still in his prime before I hang up my gloves.” (Gilbert Espeña)