Scully bilib pa rin sa kakayahan ni Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — Bagama’t marami ang naniniwalang dapat nang isabit ni Manny Pacquiao ang kanyang boxing gloves ay mayroon pa ring kumpiyansa sa kakayahan ng Filipino world eight-division champion.

Isa na rito si trainer at dating world title challenger John Scully.

“I think Pacquiao in his recent fights has looked pretty good overall,” wika ni Scully sa panayam ng On The Ropes Boxing Radio. “I don’t think he’s looked washed up, I think he’s proven to be vulnerable in certain areas but when he’s on his game, I think he’s still very formidable.”

Hahamunin ni Pacquiao (59-7-2, 39 KOs) si Lucas Matthysse (39-4-0, 36 KOs) para sa suot nitong World Boxing Association welterweight crown sa Hulyo 15 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nagmula sa unanimous decision loss si Pacquiao matapos maisuko ang kanyang hawak na World Boxing Organization welterweight belt kay Jeff Horn noong Hulyo ng nakaraang taon sa Brisbane, Australia.

Mas bata ng apat na taon ang 35-anyos na si Matthysse kay Pacquiao.

Ngunit may ilalabas pang bilis at lakas ang 39-anyos na Filipino boxing legend, ayon kay Scully.

“I think Pacquiao is like any fighter where one day, whether it’s this day or another day, he’s going to wake up and it’s not gonna be there, the tank’s gonna be empty. Matthysse certainly could be a guy to bring that out, but my gut feeling is that he probably still has something left,” ani Scully.

Sinabi ni Pacquiao na sakaling matalo siya kay Matthysse ay tuluyan na siyang magreretiro para tutukan ang political career niya.

Nauna na siyang pinayuhan ni dating chief trainer Freddie Roach na magretiro matapos ang kabiguan kay Horn.

Hindi kinuha ni ‘Pacman’ ang serbisyo ni Roach para sa paghahamon kay Matthysse at sa halip ay hinirang ang kababatang si Buboy Fernandez bilang bagong chief trainer niya.