We’ve seen high-profile boxers combat into their 40s previously. A few of them have even taken lengthy layoffs earlier than doing so, like George Foreman. However what Manny Pacquiao is about to do feels nearly unprecedented. After 72 skilled fights and a break of 4 years, PacMan is formally set to combat Mario Barrios for a world title belt at 46 years previous.
Within the eyes of many, it is an especially harmful resolution. Pacquiao was outclassed in his final combat, again when he was 42 years previous, and he hasn’t had any high-level exhibition boxing bouts since then. Many former boxers have weighed in on the scenario, and the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard is certainly one of them.
Manny Pacquiao coaching for his skilled boxing comeback
Sugar Ray Leonard tells Manny Pacquiao to be able to get hit
Whereas being interviewed by Fight Hub TV, Leonard was requested about Pacquiao’s return. Whereas he does not assume it is “silly” what Pacquiao is doing at such a sophisticated age, he did give him a warning of kinds.
Manny Pacquiao reportedly set for ring return with July title bout
After I got here again, I did not understand it was 5 years I have been out of this ring. You gotta get used to being hit, you gotta get used to being skilled that onerous, that degree. It is extra psychological, extra psychological, than it’s bodily… Perhaps he can do it. Perhaps he is aware of the best factor to do.
Leonard is aware of a factor about making a comeback at a late age. He got here out of retirement in 1997 to combat Hector Camacho for the IBC middleweight belt at 40 years previous. It did not go as deliberate, as Leonard misplaced through fifth spherical TKO in what ended up being the ultimate combat of his profession.
Camacho was 34 on the time of that combat, so the parallels aren’t the identical as 46-year-old Pacquiao preventing 30-year-old Barrios, however it might show to be a cautionary story.
