LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao stood in the middle of the ring at the Wildcard Boxing Club and flexed his muscles.

With his signature goateed mustache and wide grin, the short-statured legendary boxer from the Philippines took off his shirt to show off his rippling six-pack of abs in front of a horde of reporters.

What You Need To Know

  • Eight division boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao is preparing for his next fight against Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas

  • The 42-year-old Pacquiao, a future Hall of Fame boxer and senator in the Philippines, will face his toughest opponent against an undefeated fighter and Father Time

  • Pacquiao said he wants to continue to add to his already impressive boxing resume and legacy

  • Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, said Pacquiao is still the fastest fighter in the world

From all indications, Pacquiao looked every bit of the legendary fighter that he is. He's in prime shape. He feels good, he said, as he trains for his 147-pound welterweight championship fight against Errol Spence Jr., who lives and trains in Texas.

But beneath the façade, questions swirl on whether Pacquiao can defeat not just Spence Jr. but Father Time.

At 42 years old, Pacquiao knows he's not a young man anymore. And now, after nearly two years off, and rather than taking on an easy fight and make millions against YouTube reality stars like some of his former fellow competitors, he's taking on a younger, bold and undefeated opponent, Spence Jr.

Pacquiao (62–7–2 39 KOs) and Spence Jr. (27-0 21 KOs) are facing off in the ring on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 5-foot-10-inch, 31-year-old World Boxing Champion Spence Jr. is the 2 to 1 favorite coming into the fight. Spence Jr. is the bigger and muscular fighter.

"[Spence Jr. is] one of the best," Pacquiao said to Spectrum News during the media day workout Wednesday ahead of the Aug. 21 bout. "We consider this one of the hardest fights in my career, especially at this age of 42."

There is no doubt that Pacquiao, who splits his time between his home in Los Angeles and the Philippines, is a sure-fire boxing Hall of Famer when and if he ever decides to hang up his boxing gloves. Most boxers retire at 37.

An eight-division world boxing champion nicknamed Pac-Man, Pacquiao has overcome tremendous poverty in the Philippines, rose through the boxing ladder in a storied 20-year career to become a world champion and one of the greatest boxers to ever step into the ring.

He has parlayed that ring success into becoming a worldwide celebrity and senator in his home country of the Philippines. There are even rumors that a presidential run could happen next year when the Philippines' president's term ends.

So why risk his legacy and stature to fight against such a formidable opponent?

One of Pacquiao's nemesis, Floyd Mayweather Jr., has racked up tens of millions of dollars fighting exhibition matches against easier opponents, most recently a Youtube personality and a mixed martial arts fighter.

"I can easily pick an easy opponent, easy to win, but I'd rather pick one of the best to fight to add to my legacy," Pacquiao said.

Why do you need to add more to your legacy?

"Because boxing is my passion," he said. "That's why I'm still here [and] keep on fighting. I love doing this, and I'm happy doing this."

Pacquiao's long-time trainer, Freddie Roach, said as long as Pacquiao continues to work hard and stays in shape, he is fine.

During training camp, Pacquiao, Roach said, knocked down two of his sparring partners. 

"His work ethic is still the same," Roach said to Spectrum News. "He works really, really hard. We have a deal: once his skills and work ethic go, I'm going to tell him to retire, and we're both going to retire. And that hasn't happened yet. His work ethic is great. He's doing really well."

Roach said Pacquiao, who has a frenetic boxing style, still has fast hands, "is still the fastest fighter in the world," and thinks his fighter can outmaneuver the bigger Spence Jr.

"I love him in this fight," Roach said of Pacquiao. "Spence is a little slow. He's a good puncher and a little more dangerous, but all fighters are dangerous."

Roach added that he is cautious of overworking his fighter. Roach is aware of his fighter's age. He orders Pacquiao to take some days off and focuses primarily on sparring sessions.

Pacquiao admits that he can't push his body to the limits like before.

"'In terms of recovery, it's not that easy like when you were young," Pacquiao said. "When you push yourself in a day of training, sometimes overnight rest is not enough to recover. You have to adjust to your body and give it time."

For Pacquiao, a win at the age of 42 against the younger, undefeated Spence Jr. would further cement his legacy as one of the best fighters and arguably the best boxer of all time.

There have been some fighters who have fought well past 40. George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins, to name a few, all fought well past the age of 40. But those were heavyweights and, in Hopkins's case, a light heavyweight.

Still, Pacquiao is not slowing down. Two years ago, at age 40, Pacquaio defeated formerly undefeated fighter Keith Thurman, who was 10 years his junior. Pacquiao knocked down Thurman early before securing a split decision victory.

Roach said there's a possibility that there could be more fights ahead for Pacquiao after this bout.

Pacquiao said, "It could be my last fight, or there could be more."

"I'm taking it one fight at a time," he said.