Pacquiao reflects on career: No regrets

LAS VEGAS – It was a pensive ambience at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood after what could be Manny Pacquiao’s final workout at Freddie Roach’s sweatshop, which had become equally famous due to the Filipino icon’s ring exploits.

After Pacquiao capped his workout with the usual prayer, the boxer gathered his team – consisting of his assistant trainers, the brothers Buboy and Roger Fernandez, Roach, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, and head of security Carlos Homo – in the ring and huddled in prayer.

It was, as Pacquiao himself said, something they never did in past camps. The scene might also be the last.

As Pacquiao broke camp Monday (Tuesday in Manila), he spent a significantly longer time talking to reporters after taking a shower, perhaps sensing that this, too, might be the last time he gets to do it after a Los Angeles workout.

Reporters hurled a plethora of questions at him, from his readiness for Timothy Bradley this Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to his wife’s repeated calls for him to retire.

The STAR/Philstar.com then asked him if he had any regrets with how his career played out, if there were any fights he would have wanted to happen but for some reason, did not.

“No regrets. Nakalaban naman natin lahat,” was his response.

Indeed, Pacquiao had fought the best of his era, emerging victorious in most of them, and never backed out from a challenge. Along the way, he collared multiple world titles from various sanctioning organizations.

Pacquiao reminded everyone of the exact number of weight classes where he reigned as champion.

“I'm the only eight-division world champion in history," he proudly stated.

The other day, he said he wished his fight with Antonio Margarito six years ago was stopped, and bared his awareness of his long knockout drought. But that’s just about it.

Before he departed for Las Vegas for fight week, Pacquiao looked like a man ready to ride off into the sunset. And for him, it was quite a ride

“Satisfied ako sa career ko,” Pacquiao said.

Most will agree with him.