Pacquiao, 36, takes on Floyd Mayweather Jr on Saturday night in Las Vegas for the WBC, WBO and WBA welterweight titles. But on a very rare occasion, the eight-weight world champion is the underdog for super-fight on the Strip.
The belief is that Mayweather, 38, who is undefeated in 47 fights, has aged better over his career than the Filipino puncher who has had a longer, tougher time in the professional ranks. When he was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 it seemed like the end, but he has since bounced back with three wins on the trot against Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley and, most recently, Chris Algieri.
Leonard believes Pacquiao can be declared the greatest of this era by delivering against the odds just like he did against Marvellous Marvin Hagler in 1987. The five-weight world champion had fought just once in five years before he faced Hagler at middleweight, a division he had never competed in. He retired in 1982 after defending his WBC and WBA welterweight titles against Bruce Finch because of a detached retina.
But then the American returned two years later to beat Kevin Howard in a non-title clash before beating Hagler in a cracker. “All fighters have one last fight in them, if you look at [Muhammad] Ali against George Foreman and Ali won despite being expected to lose,” said Leonard. “With me it was Hagler, I knew I had one last fight in me. I believe that all applies to Manny Pacquiao.
Maybe Floyd doesn’t know exactly what power Pacquiao has, I did not know what power Hagler had until I was in there and he landed. “I went there against Hagler, I just did not want to lose, there was so much at stake but that is what makes fighters great, that is what makes fighters champions.”
Leonard is also not in agreement that Pacquiao is the only one who has aged significantly since this fight was first mooted way back in 2009 as he warned Mayweather that you cannot stay young forever. He said: “Has Floyd slowed down? Yes, I don’t care who you are, everyone slows down and maybe Pacquiao can take advantage.
“Fighters themselves don’t think they have slowed down, they just don’t notice it.”
But he does have one word of warning for Pacquiao and that is to protect the fortune, believed to be more than £80m, that he is going to earn for this fight. The Filipino is known as a generous man and has given millions to his compatriots as he works towards eventually being his country’s leader.
Leonard blew most of his fortune through a lavish lifestyle and his own generosity to others over his remarkable career as one of boxing’s best ever.
“Pacquiao tries to help everyone just like me, he goes out of his way to help everyone but you can’t help the world,” said Leonard.
“Sometimes you have to say ‘no’. It was difficult for me to say no at first, I gave away many millions of dollars. “When you become world champion, you make an impact inside the ring but you make a bigger impact out.”
The former world champion has been involved in some of the sport’s biggest fights, including his wars with Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran. But he will be among the punters at ringside on Saturday and just as excited as them. “On the night my palms will be sweating just like the fans,” said Leonard. “I am looking forward to this more than any other fight in recent years.”
Article courtesy of Express UK