Pacquiao caps training, ready to rumble

KUALA LUMPUR – Manny Pacquiao marked the final day of his preparations for Sunday’s bout with a short run in the morning and a light gym session in the afternoon.

On Saturday at 9 a.m. sharp, he and WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse will tip the scales at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Center.

It’s the official weigh-in for Sunday’s title fight.

Pacquiao should have no problems making weight, never at 147. On the other hand, Matthysse could be on the dot.

During the mitts session, Pacquiao caught trainer Buboy Fernandez with a wayward punch to the chin, and the latter suffered a broken tooth.

“I can already imagine the action inside the ring,” said Pacquiao, at 39 attempting to win yet another world title against yet another dangerous foe.

Pacquiao has not fought since July last year, when he was bullied and beaten by Australia’s Jeff Horn at the packed Brisbane Stadium.

Now, he’s back in the ring, a year older, wiser and feeling the pressure.

“I feel the pressure in this fight because I need to prove that I’m still there,” he said in the run-up to Sunday’s fight at the spacious Axiata Arena.

With world titles in eight different weight classes, Pacquiao really has nothing else to prove, except that he can still fight at a high level.

Pacquiao is past his prime, just as his peers, and most have retired from boxing -- Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Dela Hoya, Hatton, Cotto or Mayweather.