Expect a different Manny Pacquiao come the night of Aug. 21.
That was the friendly reminder of Pacquiao's longtime trainer and pal Buboy Fernandez ahead of the mega-bout against unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fernandez said the hiatus only made Pacquiao hungrier for his much-awaited comeback. He has been inactive since defeating Keith Thurman in July 2019 to capture the super WBA welterweight title.
READ: Manny Pacquiao: I'll be needing more stamina vs Errol Spence
"We try all the best because Errol Spence is not easy fighter," Fernandez said in an ambush interview with few boxing reporters upon exiting the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). "He's (Spence) a good fighter. He's a world champion so I know that Errol Spence will train hard because he's gonna face a legendary .
"Y'know all the fighters want to fight Manny Pacquiao because he's different. If you fight Manny Pacquiao, it's different."
Despite several hiccups on their flight to LA, with their plane landing first on Japan due to medical emergency before heading back to the Philippines once more, Pacquiao showed no signs of jetlag as he quickly worked the mitts with veteran coach Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club on Monday, July 5 there.
READ: Freddie Roach amazed with Pacquiao's power on Day 1 of US training
The fighting senator left the Philippines Sunday afternoon and arrived in LA on the fourth of July, which happened to be America's Independence Day.
Fernandez also explained that the COVID-19 situation in America prompted Team Pacquiao to fly and begin training camp earlier as planned.
Meanwhile, the WBA is planning to reinstate Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 knockouts) as its super welterweight titleholder since losing it due to inactivity last January.
Spence, for his part, is undefeated in 27 matches on top of 21 knockouts with the latest win coming from Danny Garcia via unanimous decision last December.
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