Sugar Ray Leonard has weighed in on Manny Pacquiao’s sensational return to the sport.
It will be Pacquiao’s first ring appearance since he was defeated by former WBA world welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas back in 2021, although he has participated in two exhibition contests since then against DK Yoo and Rukiya Anpo respectively.
Hall of fame inductee and five division world champion Sugar Ray Leonard has shared his thoughts on Pacquiao’s shock return to the sport, which has come as a big surprise to the majority of the boxing world in recent weeks.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Leonard gave an honest assessment of Pacquiao’s comeback, as he admits the psychological side of things can play more of an impact than the physical side but is certainly not ruling out the future Hall of Famer, saying ‘maybe he can do it.’
“You know there’s no one answer to that question, I mean, when I came back I didn’t realise it was five years I’ve been out of the ring. You got to get used to being hit, you got to get used to being training that hard at that level, it’s a lot of things, it’s more mental, more psychological that it is physical. You have to have that heart, have that feeling, and you know what?
Maybe he can do it, maybe he knows the right thing to do.”
Pacquiao could write himself into the boxing history books once again in July, but as he approaches his 47th birthday it could be a step too far for the Filipino icon who has given so much to the sport already.
