The 8-division former world champion told veteran boxing scribe Eddie Alinea of Philboxing that he is both sad and happy to return to Las Vegas.
"[I'm] sad because it is that venue where I met back-to-back defeats for the first time in my boxing career, lost my welterweight title, and broke a 15-fight winning streak," Pacquiao said.
He was referring to his losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, the two boxers he fought in 2012.
Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight crown to Bradley via a controversial decision in June 2012. Six months later, he received a devastating knockout at the hands of Marquez.
Pacquiao now has the chance to make it right at the very same place where he suffered his losses.
"I am also happy because despite the setbacks, I am again given the opportunity to make up for that and move on," he said.
"Tingin ko naman, after two years, I have already bounced back from that debacle in order continue pursuing the thing I love doing most."
He started his comeback when he fought Brandon Rios in Macau last November. He gave the sluggish Mexican-American a boxing clinic and earned his first victory in three fights.
But the real test will be against Bradley, whom he will face in a rematch this weekend.
During their first encounter, the American used his slick boxing skills to earn the judges’ nod and edge Pacquiao via split decision.
The fighting congressman is determined not to let that happen again. Pacquiao said the second Bradley fight will signal his rise from adversity.
"This is the beauty engaging in a profession in sports, maging boksing o ano pa man," he said.
"Sa sports, you can learn to rise from one adversity to another. Kahit ano pang mangyaring di kanais-nais sa buhay mo, makababalik at makababalik ka. Kasama kasi sa disiplina sa sports yan."
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
