LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao said he still has the same killer instinct as before, that same instinct that led him to 38 knockout victories in 57 fights.
“Yes. Especially if I hate the guy,” said Pacquiao, surrounded by mediamen.
Pacquiao, who grew up and made a name knocking out his opponents, has failed to score a stoppage in his last two fights over the past year.
He failed against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, who are much bigger than him. Now, there’s some kind of pressure for him to knock Shane Mosley out.
Prior to the Clottey and Margarito matches, Pacquiao breezed through Oscar dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton, but needed 12 rounds to knock Miguel Cotto out.
Mosley has never been knocked out before, and Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said the Filipino southpaw should be the first to do so.
Pacquiao was pressed to say who among his past opponents he hated most, and it took him a while before something came out of his mouth.
“Hmm... Dela Hoya,” he said.
But why Dela Hoya, whom Pacquiao considered or still considers as his idol?
“Because (before) the fight he sent me gloves and he signed it and wrote ‘I’m going to knock you out,’” said Pacquiao.
Then he laughed as if he wasn’t too serious about what he just said.
He was asked why he didn’t go for the kill against Margarito, when the Mexican who stood six feet tall and weighed 17 lb heavier inside the ring looked ready to go.
“Well, he’s strong. He’s tough,” he said, and the scribes took it as an answer.
Roach had a better explanation.
“Manny is a compassionate person at times, like he wouldn’t hurt Margarito,” said Roach.
“He took it easy on him in the last two rounds and let him last the fight, and asked him if he is okay a couple of times. Manny doesn’t want anyone get hurt.”
Again, Pacquiao said he still has that killer instinct.
“I still have the killer instinct. I always have the killer instinct,” he said.
He better prove it on Saturday.