Manny Pacquiao during a training session at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He is preparing for a world title fight against Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas. –MARK GIONGCO/INQUIRER.net
LAS VEGAS–Manny Pacquiao may be standing at the doorstep of history, but breaking records is just secondary to his main goal of becoming world champion again.
Pacquiao will hit two birds with one stone with a victory on Saturday here–set records and regain his world champion status–but his eyes are on the ultimate prize: The WBC welterweight crown currently held by Mario Barrios.
READ: Pacquiao solves lingering cramps issue ahead of Barrios bout
“[I’m motivated by] breaking my own record as the oldest welterweight champion,” said Pacquiao Tuesday after a two-hour training session at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
“Becoming the second oldest boxer to win a world title is a good motivation, but what I really want is to become champion again.”
LOOK BACK: Manny Pacquiao’s best fights through the years
Pacquiao was the champion the last time he fought four years ago, but relinquished his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas.
The bout against Barrios marks his 22nd bout in Sin City and 24 years since he made his US debut also at MGM Grand, where he pulled off a sixth-round shocker against the late South African champion Lehlo Ledwaba in an IBF super bantamweight title fight.
Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas late Tuesday night after a usual four-hour road trip from Los Angeles turned into a grueling seven-and-a-half-hour journey due to a gridlock.
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