Eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao is back to his old tricks, as he's ripping through his training sessions with a combination of rapid speed and power.
Pacquiao is preparing for his scheduled fight against WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse, which takes place at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
The fight is a do or die contest for the 39-year-old fighter. Pacquiao is coming back from a one-year layoff and in his last ring appearance he also suffered a twelve round decision loss at the hands of Jeff Horn in July of 2017.
A few weeks ago, Pacquiao parted ways with his trainer of the last 16 years, Freddie Roach.
For the upcoming bout, he's being trained by his best friend, Buboy Fernandez - with the assistance of a few others like Nonito Donaire Sr.
Pacquiao strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune, has arrived in Manila and says the Filipino star was really working Buboy over.
“[Once] a puncher, always a puncher. Manny was what he was when he started as light-flyweight 23 years ago and he still is what he is now,” Fortune told The Manila Times.
“I saw him train yesterday when I arrived and saw how he punished Buboy while working with the mitts. He’s still very strong. No wonder Buboy, I heard, was asking for somebody to help him in that department.
While he admits the contest will be a tough outing, Fortune is very confident that Pacquiao will win and walk away with the victory. He feels the boxer, despite his age, is better than Matthysse is practically every department.
“He’s still as a very quick with his pair of hands and feet, I tell you. Manny’s definitely faster than Matthysse,” Fortune attested. “It’ll be a tough fight, I admit. But comes that time, Manny will be the stronger, the quicker and the better fighter."