Manny Pacquiao says Yordenis Ugas ‘might be my last fight’ but promoter says he could return to ring this year
- Filipino boxing icon warns fans ‘don’t miss’ WBA super welterweight title fight in Las Vegas as he could bring curtain down on career
- But Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, insists if Pacquiao wins ‘he’s looking to get right back in that ring October or November’
Manny Pacquiao has admitted that Saturday night’s WBA super-welterweight title fight against champion Yordenis Ugas could be the last time he graces a boxing ring.
The 42-year-old fighting Senator (62-7-2) looks to reclaim the belt he was stripped of for inactivity in January after accepting a late-notice fight against 35-year-old Cuban Ugas (26-4) at the T-Mobile Arena.
Eight-weight world champion Pacquiao was originally set to face American Errol Spence Jnr, but the IBF and WBC champ suffered a torn retina during his training camp last week.
“I’m doing my best in training, pushing my body hard, so that I’m ready to fight for the title on Saturday,” Pacquiao told ES News on Sunday, before leaving Los Angeles to head to Las Vegas for fight week.
“Never underestimate your opponent because he can punch also. Always keep in 100 per cent condition mentally, physically and spiritually.
“I hope you’re going to watch this fight, don’t miss it,” Pacquiao added. “It’s going to be a good fight – it might be my last fight, or more, we don’t know. God knows. Thank you so much for all your support.”
Pacquiao’s manager at MP Promotions, Sean Gibbons, was confident that the fighting senator’s fans will see him back in the ring after Saturday, though, and even possibly again this year.
“The good thing is, it’s not over,” Gibbons told former PBA commissioner Noli Eala on Power and Play. “You don’t look past the fight, but it’s definitely not over.
“This fight ends, this fight is over, he wins, he’s looking to get right back in that ring, October, November, before he has to move on to the next phase of his career.”
Gibbons also said Pacquiao has been training harder for this fight than when he took the WBA super welterweight title from Keith Thurman last time out in July 2019.
“I’m amazed because ... every day it’s something new. The guy is an encyclopaedia of boxing,” Gibbons said. “I’m in awe of the guy, because the guy knows his business. He knows his body, he knows the sport.”
