SINGAPORE — Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said Friday that he can fight for another three years despite two successive losses, brushing aside calls for him to retire and focus on his political career. He told journalists at a promotional event in Singapore, for his Nov. 24 bout in Macau with American Brandon Rios, that his Mexican arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez just got lucky when they fought in December last year. “It's part of boxing, sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, and I think he just got the lucky chance, the lucky shot in that fight,” said Pacquiao, who crumpled to the canvas after a crushing right from Marquez in the sixth round. Asked how much longer he sees himself in the ring, the 34-year-old, now serving a second term as a Philippine congressman, vowed that “as long as I can still fight, I am going to fight.” “In my mind, I can still fight two to three years from now,” said Pacquiao, the only fighter in history to win world titles in eight different weight divisions. “I tell you frankly, honestly in myself I can still fight and I feel strong. If there is something wrong in my body or something wrong in my boxing skill I have to think about that and think about retirement. “But since I lost the last fight, I never feel something in my body, I still feel strong and I can still fight.” A storm of controversy erupted in the Philippines last week after Pacquiao said he had considered running for president in the future, although a spokesman later said he had no immediate plans to further his political career and that he “knows very well” he cannot contest an election until he is aged 40. Pacquiao's seven-year, 15-bout winning streak came to an end in June 2012 with a controversial split decision loss to Timothy Bradley, followed six months later by the sensational defeat to Marquez in their fourth meeting. He promised a good show when he meets Rios, who is seven years his junior, in Macau as part of the sport's efforts to generate interest across Asia outside the boxing-mad Philippines. “He's a tough opponent,” Pacquiao said. “We can create a lot of action in the ring.” Promoter Bob Arum, who joined the two fighters in Singapore, called Asia the “emerging frontier” for the sport, saying boxing needs to create a major presence in the region. Rios, a former World Boxing Association lightweight champion, also promised an exciting bout. “I don't think it's going the distance,” said the Californian, who lost a close decision to Mike Alvarado in March for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim junior welterweight title. “We've both got something to prove. So we're both going to be hungry and show that we're not done yet.” Pacquiao made strong hints about future fights in the region instead of America, with Arum touting the Philippines and Singapore as possible venues. A move that Arum hoped might finally lead to Mayweather, one of the true greats of the sport, getting in the ring with Pacquiao. “Never say never,” Arum said of the possible match up. “I think when Floyd realizes the economic benefits of doing a fight in Asia, maybe at the new Singapore stadium ... maybe that will open up a dialogue for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in Asia.” — Agencies
