Manny Pacquiao opens U.S. camp, says fans ‘know what’s in my heart’

One of the patented scenes of a Manny Pacquiao fight -- before the typical flurry of power punches -- is the Filipino’s ring entrance, when he raises his arms and beams a constant smile as the masses in attendance roar their support.

Now, in the fallout of Pacquiao’s comments and social-media post interpreted as critical of a gay lifestyle, the boxer confronts reaction far different from what he’s known, as he returns to fight welterweight champion Timothy Bradley for a third time, on April 9 in Las Vegas.

“I’ll still have that. I still believe the people will want to watch the fight -- an exciting fight,” Pacquiao told The Times on Monday after closing his first day of training camp in the U.S. at his trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. “I still have a lot of fans. ... This will be a good fight.”

Former eight-division world champion Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) sparked outrage last month by telling a television network in the Philippines that gay sex made man “worse than animals,” then drew further furor by quoting an Old Testament verse that discussed the killing of gays.

Pacquiao agreed to discuss his preparations for Bradley with The Times, but sought to avoid talking about his comments in the Philippines. He apprehensively said after the boxing conversation, “I know there’s something you want to ask me … I can read your mind … but let’s focus on the fight.”

Asked, however, if the apologies he made in the Philippines have gone far enough to soothe ill will, specifically among boxing fans deciding whether to attend his fight or buy the HBO pay-per-view, Pacquiao said, “I was misquoted. If you watch and listen to the whole interview, it’s not only one or two minutes. It’s five to 10 minutes. If you watch the whole interview, you would understand it. The context was lost. I want [people] to watch the whole interview.”

Pacquiao also claimed the Instagram post about death to gays was misinterpreted, explaining, “I put two verses in. One from the Old Testament and I included the New Testament [too], explaining that now, ‘We are under grace’ of God, [that] no one can judge another person. Only the Lord will judge us.

“That’s what I was trying to say. That’s why I put the New Testament verse in. That’s what I want to say.

“I’m not worried about it. I just want to explain it and explain it properly. I still have a lot of LGBT [fans] who’ve expressed their support. They know what’s in my heart.”

Pacquiao is returning to the ring for the first time since pocketing an estimated $150 million in his May 2 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what became the most lucrative fight in history.

Immediately afterward, he admitted he suffered a right shoulder injury in training before the fight, and after the Nevada State Athletic Commission denied him a pain-relieving injection in his locker room just before the bout, he aggravated the injury while hitting Mayweather with a combination in the fourth round and was rendered mostly ineffective after that.

Surgery and the longest layoff of Pacquiao’s career followed. He turned 37 in December.

“I’m still focused to train and work hard. I’ve rested almost one full year. It motivated me and my body feels good, almost like I’m starting in boxing,” Pacquiao said. “In the first two weeks of our training, we used [the shoulder], punching hard.

“What I earn in my career, I am satisfied with that, but I am happy doing this and I’m happy to bring excitement to my fans. Boxing is my passion. I love to do it for the honor of our country.”

In Bradley, Pacquiao will face a Coachella Valley product who beat Pacquiao by a greatly disputed 2012 split-decision, and was then defeated convincingly by unanimous decision in 2014. Bradley has aligned with new trainer Teddy Atlas, and knocked out former world champion Brandon Rios in November.

“He has a new trainer and he knocked Rios out. That’s interesting,” Pacquiao said.

But when asked if Bradley can pick him apart like Mayweather, with boxing speed and attention to defense, Pacquiao smiled and said, “No. They box different -- way, way different … the skill, he’s slower. The speed … we know. I’m just being honest.

“I can throw a lot of punches on him.”

Friends tracking polls in the Philippines say Pacquiao, a congressman, is in seventh place among the candidates who will fill 12 Senate seats in the May election.

The outcome could determine if he’ll retire.

“We do not know. It’s hard to say if I’m finished. I can’t say I don’t want to come back. My decision will come after this fight. I’ll go back to the Philippines and … [might] have a new job to do and be focused on,” he said.