Latest news with #FreddieRoach
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Manny Pacquiao leaned on Raiders for final training before Mario Barrios fight
Manny Pacquiao, preparing to return to the boxing ring at 46 on Saturday in Las Vegas, escaped the suffocating heat Wednesday, July 16. But not as long as expected. The Filipino star did shadow boxing and ab work inside the Las Vegas' Raiders training facility. But with an unexpected breeze outside, Pacquiao did a light jog around the outdoor fields, said Marcus Padilla, the Raiders' Senior Director of Broadcast, who arranged the visit. 'It was awesome,'' Padilla said. Will Carless, head of the Raiders' communications and public relations department, also confirmed Pacquiao's visit. The work was some of Pacquiao's final training before his fight with Mario Barrios, which will be his first since 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision. The visit began on Wednesday before 8 a.m. when Pacquiao arrived with an entourage of about 15 people that included his trainer, Freddie Roach. Typically, when in Las Vegas for a fight, Pacquiao runs at UNLV. 'I think they're going to have to talk sense in Manny because he would run through Hades and train, and I don't know if he's as concerned about conserving his energy,'' Padilla said before the visit. No luck. Although the temperature reached 88 degrees by 8 a.m., Pacquiao still headed for a walk and light jog around the three outdoor fields at the Raiders' Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson – about 12 miles from MGM Grand Garden Arena where Pacquiao will fight Saturday night. Manny Pacquiao's grasp of football Pacquiao's manager, Sean Gibbons, said he wasn't sure if the legendary boxer even knows how many yards it takes to get a first down. 'Manny's passion is basketball and chess,'' Gibbons told USA TODAY Sports before Pacquiao's visit to the Raiders' facility. But Gibbons said Pacquiao has developed a friendship with Camryn Bynum, a safety for the Indianapolis Colts whose mother is Filipino. This is not the Raiders' foray into the world of boxing. Tyson used property owned by Raiders owner Mark Davis to build a gym he used while training for his fight against Jake Paul on Nov. 15. While Tyson lost to the former YouTuber, Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight weight divisions, is taking on a more daunting, much stiffer challenge. He is seeking to become the first Hall of Fame boxer to win a world title. The WBC welterweight title will be on the line when he fights 30-year-old Mario Barrios, the reigning WBC champion. Pacquiao, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June, has not held a world title since losing the WBO welterweight championship in 2017 to Jeff Horn by unanimous decision. How did Pacquiao's visit materialize Padilla, who is Filipino and president of the Raiders' Asian Pacific Islander group, said his attempt to get Pacquiao to the Raiders fell through in 2009 when the Raiders were still in Oakland. After learning about Pacquiao's comeback, Padilla said, he visited the boxer's training camp in Los Angeles and set in motion the boxer's visit to the Raiders' training facility. Upon Pacquaio's arrival at the facility, Padilla said, the boxer marveled at the facility and said, 'Big. Amazing.'' The Raiders also have made their facility available to soccer superstar Neymar and WWE superstar Roman Reigns, according to Padilla and Kiss. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Raiders assisted Manny Pacquiao before big fight
France 24
17-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Pacquiao, 46, eyes comeback upset in Barrios showdown
The 46-year-old Filipino icon takes on World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas chasing another milestone to crown his glittering 30-year professional career. Pacquiao stunned the boxing world in May when he announced that he planned to end his four-year exile from the sport to challenge Barrios, taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows former champions to request an immediate title fight when coming out of retirement. Pacquiao, who is reportedly set to receive between $5-10 million for Saturday's fight, says his comeback is motivated by his passion for the sport and the adrenaline rush of headlining a Sin City fight night. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said during a recent publicity tour. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Sceptics though have voiced concern that Pacquiao, whose last professional win came in 2019, may have bitten off more than he can chew by exercising his right for a title shot against a defending champion Barrios who is 16 years his junior and in the prime of his career. Even Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's long-time trainer who will be in the Filipino's corner once again on Saturday, admitted to initially harbouring reservations about the match-up. "I really don't want to see him make a comeback, because I think he's already been great. He's already done everything he can do," Roach said in May before Pacquiao's return was made official. 'Bad intentions' Oddsmakers have echoed the scepticism, with Barrios installed as 4/11 favourite to dish out a ninth defeat in what will be Pacquiao's 73rd career fight. "I'm okay being the underdog," an unfazed Pacquiao said in Las Vegas this week. "I've been the underdog many times. I'm always bringing surprises." Pacquiao's supporters meanwhile point to the Filipino's chiseled physique and glimpses of impressive hand speed as reasons to believe that the veteran can produce another memorable Vegas win. Yet boxing history is littered with veteran fighters who looked sharp in training camp only to be dismantled by much younger opponents when fight night rolled around. Many in the sport have wondered if Pacquiao might be heading for the same kind of pummelling that he dished out to an ageing Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. De la Hoya, who had been favoured to win that contest, was soundly beaten over eight one-sided rounds in what would be the final fight of the American's career. "I wanted to die in that ring," De La Hoya revealed years later. Pacquiao insists the fears surrounding his comeback are overblown, noting that his family were squarely behind his decision to lace up the gloves again. "I'm thankful for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." A win for Pacquiao on Saturday would see him make history as the first active fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing's Hall of Fame. Standing in his way though is Barrios, who says Pacquiao's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era will not distract him from the task in hand. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed," Barrios said. "Hats off to Pacquiao for daring to be great. But it's my time now and I'm gonna show that come Saturday. © 2025 AFP
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pacquiao, 46, intends to make extended comeback
Manny Pacquiao plans to make his boxing comeback last more than one fight as he prepares for his first professional contest in almost four 46-year-old will challenge Mario Barrios on Saturday for his WBC world welterweight title in Las will be his first professional fight since August 2021, shortly after which he 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 is a record he already holds - having won the WBA Super title in 2019, when he was is considered as one of the greatest fighters of all-time and is the only boxer to win world titles in eight different weight 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."
Khaleej Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Pacquiao 'hungry' for comeback after four-year layoff
Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday that his lengthy layoff from boxing has reignited his passion for the sport as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat. Pacquiao has reunited with long-time veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's title tilt, and spoke to journalists on Wednesday as he worked out at the Hall of Famer's Wild Card gym in Hollywood. "Four years rest has been good for me," Pacquiao said after showing off some impressive hand speed in an open pads session. "I've been in boxing for so many decades, so it's good for my body to rest for four years. "Now I'm back, I'm hungry to fight again. I'm hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that." "I've missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard — it's still there." Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning. "I'm fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I'm happy," he said. "I'm enjoying this training camp. There's a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give my body time to rest and recover." Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, refused to be drawn on whether his comeback next month would be "one and done" or just the first step of a full-fledged return to the sport. "It's hard to say," he said when asked about future bouts. "Now I'm back so one at a time, after this fight we can plan whatever we want." For some in boxing, however, Pacquiao's return to the ring represents an unnecessary risk. British promoter Eddie Hearn was the latest to cast doubt on the wisdom of the Filipino's comeback earlier this month, predicting that the 30-year-old Barrios will be "too young and too strong" for Pacquiao. Pacquiao smiled on Wednesday when asked for his response to Hearn's remarks. "Just watch on July 19th," he said. "It will be a good fight."
Malay Mail
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
‘Hungry to fight again': Pacquiao ready for Las Vegas comeback against champ Mario Barrios after four-year break
LOS ANGELES, June 26 — Manny Pacquiao said yesterday that his lengthy layoff from boxing has reignited his passion for the sport as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat. Pacquiao has reunited with long-time veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's title tilt, and spoke to journalists on Wednesday as he worked out at the Hall of Famer's Wild Card gym in Hollywood. 'Four years rest has been good for me,' Pacquiao said after showing off some impressive hand speed in an open pads session. 'I've been in boxing for so many decades, so it's good for my body to rest for four years. 'Now I'm back, I'm hungry to fight again. I'm hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that.' 'I've missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard — it's still there.' Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning. 'I'm fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I'm happy,' he said. 'I'm enjoying this training camp. There's a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give my body time to rest and recover.' Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, refused to be drawn on whether his comeback next month would be 'one and done' or just the first step of a full-fledged return to the sport. 'It's hard to say,' he said when asked about future bouts. 'Now I'm back so one at a time, after this fight we can plan whatever we want.' For some in boxing, however, Pacquiao's return to the ring represents an unnecessary risk. British promoter Eddie Hearn was the latest to cast doubt on the wisdom of the Filipino's comeback earlier this month, predicting that the 30-year-old Barrios will be 'too young and too strong' for Pacquiao. Pacquiao smiled on Wednesday when asked for his response to Hearn's remarks. 'Just watch on July 19th,' he said. 'It will be a good fight.' — AFP
