What kind of goals do you still have for your career at age 35?
“As I have said before, boxing is my passion and public service is my calling. As I approach my title defense against Chris Algieri I have found that my passion for boxing has increased. I do not feel old. I feel great and I find I am able to train as hard as I always have and I enjoy it. More importantly, I still enjoy boxing — a lot.
“As long as my skills and my passion remain strong I want to continue my boxing career. When I retire, I want it to be on my terms. I do not want to spend my retirement regretting that I walked away from boxing before I was ready. I do not want to come back and fight after I retire.
“My goals are to finish as a world champion, winning my remaining fights. Since the last Marquez fight I have approached every training camp and every opponent with 110% dedication. I would like to keep challenging myself in the opponents I will face in the future.
“I have not set a date or determined an age when I will retire. As long as I can keep fighting at the level I expect from myself I will continue my boxing career.
“I do have one specific goal and that is to give the boxing fans the fight they have always asked for. I want that fight too. I believe good faith negotiations could produce that fight. But it is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table. Two fighters who WANT to fight each other have never been kept from fighting each other.”
Under The Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri debuts Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:45 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Pacquiao vs. Algieri happens Saturday, November 22 live on pay-per-view beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
