Manny Pacquiao reveals crazy training regime for Mario Barrios fight
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has trained for 33 consecutive rounds for Mario Barrios
Filipino boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is aiming to rewind the clock this Saturday, July 19, when he challenges WBC Welterweight World Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios in the main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
In addition to becoming the first-ever fighter to win a world title after a Hall of Fame induction, Pacquiao could break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history if he takes the WBC belt from Barrios.
Pacquiao originally set this record in July 2019 by beating the previously unbeaten Keith Thurman at 40-years-old.
In an era that’s seen superstars continue to compete into their 40’s, such as Tom Brady and LeBron James, Pacquiao aims to do the same to transcend his legendary status in the sport.
He revealed his training crazy regime to Covers.com that has seen him pack in 99 minutes of high-intensity training in order to prepare for his WBC world title tilt.
“The speed and power is always there,” he begun. “That's what we focused on in this training camp. I feel good and I'm excited. I'm ready for the fight.
“We just have a little bit of adjustment in terms of recovering the body because it's not like when you're young and you can easily recover overnight. You need to have one day off for recovery sometimes.
“There’s not too much difference [to my camp compared to when I was younger]. I'm trying to do my best, like what I did before when I was young.
“Working on the speed and power and the intensity of the training - just like what I did before - and especially last Saturday when I did 33 rounds.
“33 rounds of sparring, doing mitts and the heavy bag. Everything like that. And the speed bag, like in total it was 33 rounds, so I'm happy that I can still do the same as when I was young.
“I have the passion to train, to work hard, I still have that. I still have the fire in my eyes and in my heart. I still have that. I'm excited for the fight.
“I don't have that laziness right now in my body. I am passionate to work hard, like what I did before, I'm punishing myself to the limit.
“That's why I'm so excited for this fight at the age of 46. I can still fight, and what I'm trying to prove is that even at the age of 46 I can still be a champion and that I can still fight.”
The Filipino Hall of Famer then turned his attention to his forthcoming foe, Mario Barrios.
“[I chose Barrios] because he's the champion. It just so happened that he's the champion of 147 pounds, so I'm glad to challenge the world champion.
“He's a fighter that you cannot underestimate and he has an advantage because he’s taller than me, although I'm used to fighting taller guys.
“But I just want to make sure that I'm 100% conditioned ahead of the fight.”
Pacman has stopped 39 of his 62 victims and will be looking for knockout no.40 this weekend.
“People will see on the night of the fight [why I will win]; my style and my movement.
“I don't know [if the fight will go the distance]. But If I could have a chance to finish it early, then why not.”
There has been talk of Pacquiao fighting Briton Conor Benn in the UK next, but nothing is being planned past this next fight yet.
“Right now I cannot comment on my [future] situation (and whether I will fight again). One at a time. One at a time.
“I don't want to plan for a future like that, I leave it to my God what’s going to be tomorrow.”
