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Manny Pacquiao won’t retire if he loses to Brandon Rios in Macau later this month.
The 34-year-old Filipino, once regarded as the best boxer, pound-for-pound, of his generation, faces the American in a crucial bout as he tries to break a losing streak.
"It's one of the most important fights of my career because I want to show my fans and the world I can still compete at a high level," Pacquiao said on Wednesday, speaking about the WBO welterweight title bout.
A former champion in eight divisions, Pacquiao – who turns 35 in December – is seeking to come back from two consecutive defeats that led supporters to ask whether he should retire.
His seven-year, 15-fight winning streak came to an end in June 2012 with a controversial split-decision loss to Timothy Bradley.
Six months later he lost by a sensational sixth-round knockout to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
But Pacquiao insists that the defeats have not affected him psychologically. And he is not thinking about losing to Rios in the former Portuguese colony on November 24.
"I expect to win this fight," he said. “It's a really important fight for me because I lost the last two.”
The Philippine congressman insisted he felt no extra pressure after the defeats and said he would fight aggressively. In boxing you win some and sometimes you lose."
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 54-5-2, with 38 knockouts, said he had the desire to continue. Losing to 27-year-old Rios would not change that. "I feel comfortable and confident.
"Boxing is in my blood. I enjoy it and I like to entertain my fans worldwide," he added.
The bout at Macau's Venetian casino resort is billed as The Clash in Cotai. It will be Pacquiao's first fight outside the United States since 2006.
It is scheduled to take place on the Sunday morning, ensuring a prime-time Saturday night audience in America.
It will also be broadcast live on SuperSport.
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