For Manny Pacquiao, the passion he feels for boxing is so great that it has motivated him to extend a career that could hardly add much more merit.
Despite 26 years as a professional, eight divisions conquered against the best opponents and with a record of 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts, 'Pac-Man' still gets excited when he knows he is close to stepping into the ring and this weekend will be no exception.
"It means a lot for me to come back, to fight again. I'm very excited. My expectations for this fight is that I want a lot of action, I'm sure they will love the fight and be happy," the 42-year-old Filipino legend said exclusively to DAZN.
Pacquiao was originally set to face American multi-champion Errol Spence, but a last-minute injury identified at the last minute scuttled the fight, leaving Cuban Yordenis Ugas as the option to save the evening.
With 10 days until the fight, the Filipino's team had to adapt strategy and training for the change of opponent and although for some it would be a big risk, for Manny it was a surprise element that added intensity.
"It wasn't hard to adjust for Ugas because he's right-handed and I'm used to fighting right-handers. It's not new for me and it won't be complicated. In just two days we adjusted. Ugas I don't want to underestimate him, I want to make sure I'm 100 percent well prepared for Saturday mentally, physically and spiritually. I don't want to underestimate him, he is a champion, he took my belt", he added.
In an interview last week with DAZN , Ugas assured that the key to beating Pacquiao was not in strength or toughness, but a mistake-free performance for outboxing and he was willing to take the Filipino to a different level.
"Did he really say that? I don't think he can outbox me. I don't think he can. But let him try on Saturday, we'll see.... I want to be aggressive, take the opportunity to knock him out. I'm not predicting the fight, but I want to make the fans happy," he said.
Much has been said about the possibility of this fight being the last on his resume, but the Filipino assured that he is still mulling over the possibility, because as his great passion it is complicated to say goodbye.
"It might be the last, maybe there are more. As I always say, I go one by one...Of course, in every situation there is a risk. In whatever you do. In boxing, in business, in politics, in any field, there is always a risk. It's up to you how you take care of yourself and how you manage your time and discipline yourself. I sound like a politician," said the fighter, who also serves as a senator in his country.
President Pacquiao?
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, feels that the time has come for his pupil to hang up his gloves and although he wanted 2021 to be busy with at least two fights, time is running out.
In multiple interviews, the renowned trainer has mentioned how Pacquiao's career is leaning step by step towards a presidential bid in the Philippines.
But what does Pacquiao think?
"Every politician has the dream of becoming president," he said. "If you are a politician it's like in boxing, when you start in boxing your dream is to become a champion.
"But my main goal is that I want to be a loved person all over the world, to be an inspiration and a role model not only inside the ring, but also outside. An inspiration to anyone, especially to the Filipino people. My dream is to help them, to help the people who are poor, I want to help them.
"I'm not pressured by that love and admiration from the people, on the contrary I'm inspired by the support. That's why I want to be a good person, friendly. Easy to talk to. I don't want to be hard to deal with. As I said, I want to be a loved person around the world," he concluded.