Pacquiao wants to prove he remains dangerous at 40

Manny Pacquiao on Thursday began preparing thoroughly for his world welterweight title bout against a strong and young opponent in Keith Thurman, getting busy with his camp at Elorde Gym in Pasay City.

His Australian conditioning coach, Justine Fortune, has brought Tim Tszyu, son of Australian boxing legend Kostya Tszyu, to prepare Pacquiao for anything that Thurman might bring into the ring.

On Thursday, Pacquiao sparred 6 rounds with Tszyu who ably copied Thurman’s fighting style.

“Maganda ang training kasi pinaghandaan natin ang mga straight (ni Thurman) at malakas itong ka sparring ko,” said the 8-division champion.

The fighting senator also has duties to take care of in the Senate, but this doesn’t affect his training, he said.

• Boxing: Kostya Tszyu's son thinks Pacquiao could hurt Thurman

His coach, Buboy Fernandez, sensed that the 40-year-old Pacquiao is very much motivated in training following a series of verbal jabs coming from Thurman.

The younger Thurman boasted he will end Pacquiao’s career.

These statements, said Fernandez, only stoked the fire in his best friend.

“Iyong sa mata niya nakita ko na talagang iba tulad ng nakita ko sa fight niya kay Oscar de la Hoya at Eric Morales,” said Fernandez. “Basta alam ko may babagsak sa fight na ito.”

Pacquiao said that despite the accolades he has already received as a boxer, he still feels he has something to prove in this title joust.

“Gusto ko ipakita kung ano magagawa ng 40 years old... and iyong impressive performance talaga,” he said. -- From a report by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

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