PacMan, 46, is set to come out of retirement to do battle with the WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, 30, in Las Vegas on Saturday (19.07.25), and ahead of the fight, Pacquiao has said he has finally solved his leg cramp issue that has plagued him throughout his career in the ring.

He said: “It took me 20 years to discover what to do to keep me from cramping up.

“The muscles on my legs were overworked because of too much massage.

"Massage in the morning, noon, afternoon and at night so that’s the reason for my cramps.

“That’s always been my problem. When I step into the ring, I’m not just fighting against my opponent but also against cramps.”

Pacquiao - who initially called it quits in 2021 following his loss to Yordenis Ugas - has been working on his game plan with long-term trainer Freddie Roach in order to emerge victorious over Barrios.

He explained: “I always stay in shape, but once I started seriously working out again, I realized that I still had that passion and ability in me.

“I went to my doctor and everything was perfect. My medicals came back great. I feel good, and I'm ready to do it again.
“I trained wrong for my last fight [with Ugas]. My legs began cramping, and I couldn't move.

“He was a very slow opponent, and I couldn't believe that I couldn't move my feet or my legs.

“The old Manny will be back.”

Pacquiao recently said he has “two or three fights left” after the Barrios bout.

He told Sky Sports: “I feel fast and I feel like the strength is still there. I can still do what I've done before in training.

“If anything, my team right now is trying to slow me down and making sure I get enough rest. I still want to push myself every day, but I know that I have to listen to my team.

“I think I have two or three more fights left. I feel like I could do this for another couple of years. But I'm just taking it one at a time.”