Manny Pacquiao is expected to execute the perfect game plan to counter fellow southpaw Errol Spence Jr. when they clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Aug. 21.
"We have a strategy that we know how to use against a southpaw. He wants to fight toe-to-toe and that's going to be my advantage," said the 42-year-old Pacquiao as quoted by BoxingScene. "We're prepared for anything. If he wants to use his reach advantage instead, we are ready."
READ: Pacquiao: Same intensity, different style vs southpaw Spence
The fighting senator said his speed and power, considered as his bread and butter, along with the execution of the strategy and his veteran experience will play key roles against the unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion.
Despite the hiatus, Pacquiao, who has not fought since beating Keith Thurman in July 2019, said he is "as excited as ever and feeling like I’m young again."
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But the last time he actually fought a southpaw was 13 years ago when he knocked out David Diaz in June 2008.
Since then, Pacquiao displayed mastery with the southpaw stance over and over again to become the only eight-division world boxing champion.
READ: Pacquiao: Spence is one of the biggest challenges in my career
Meanwhile, veteran trainer Freddie Roach has a few reminders in mind for his long-time student.
"There's a couple of guys I worry about, because they're younger, they're stronger and have very difficult styles. But Spence, I do like because he's flat-footed, he's heavy on his feet and he gets tired in the later rounds," said Roach in a separate interview with The Sun.
READ: Manny Pacquiao: I'll be needing more stamina vs Errol Spence
"I told Manny, 'We have to start quick in this fight. We can't stay in the pocket. Get off your combinations and you're going to get right out the way because he's going to hit you back'. He does have good power. There a couple fights out there we could fight, but Manny wants to fight the best guys out there."
It has been a month since Pacquiao, who holds a 62-7-2 record on top of 39 knockouts, began training camp at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California under Roach's guidance.
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Spence, 31, for his part, is still unbeaten in 27 matches with 21 KOs since beating Danny Garcia last December.
Pacquiao and Spence will dispute the WBC and IBF belts as well as the vacant The Ring title.