Manny Pacquiao, 46, plans to make his boxing comeback last more than one fight as he prepares to return for a world-title contest on Saturday.
Manny Pacquiao plans to make his boxing comeback last more than one fight as he prepares for his first professional contest in almost four years.
The 46-year-old will challenge Mario Barrios on Saturday for his WBC world welterweight title in Las Vegas.
It will be his first professional fight since August 2021, shortly after which he retired.
Confirming to BBC Sport that he intends to make an extended return to the sport, he said: "I'm sure my coaching staff like Freddie [Roach], Buboy [Fernandez] and Justin [Fortune] will tell me frankly if I don't have that fire any more.
"But right now they're very happy with my passion. They're very happy with my training. They're very happy with my speed and power.
"The fire in my eyes, in my heart, is still there."
American Barrios, aged 30, is 16 years younger than Pacquiao, and has a record of 29 wins, one draw and two losses in his 32 professional fights.
Pacquiao, who has recently been involved in politics in his native Philippines, will aim to set a new record as boxing's oldest welterweight world champion.
It is a record he already holds - having won the WBA Super title in 2019, when he was 40.
He is considered as one of the greatest fighters of all-time and is the only boxer to win world titles in eight different weight divisions.
Pacquiao added: "I'm worried for my reputation, but I'm making sure that I'm not a kind of fighter like other fighters that come back but they are not showing what they did before.
"I'm so excited for this fight because I want to prove to the fans that Manny Pacquiao is still there. And it's nice to be back."
Asked what his family thought of his comeback, he said: "I asked my family if they agreed with me or not. If they didn't agree, then I'm not going to come back because I respect my family and I love my family.
"But they said 'yes you can fight, you still have that power and speed and you are dedicated'. Because I'm a disciplined person."
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