"I'm still hungry and I'm doing what I did before."

The Philippine boxing icon and people's champ, Manny 'PacMan' Pacquiao, stated Thursday that he was still "hungry" to fight in a box in spite of his newly found career in a professional basketball; that has had his team troubled.

"What we're doing right now is to get back the hungriness and the focus and the killer instinct that the people want."

The 35-year-old boxer made a jaded first appearance on a pro ball last Sunday, a month sooner than his World Boxing Organization title defense against the undefeated American Chris Algieri in Macau.

"Basketball is also good to have, you know, footwork and balancing. It helps a lot," he said, describing it as his "cross-training" activity.

Pacquiao described basketball as the number one sport in the Philippines and as what is his other love; but clarified that he is entirely focused on boxing at the moment.

"Professional basketball, no matter where the country it is that you play it, is a rugged sport and a player can turn an ankle very, very easily," said Arum.

"NBA (US National Basketball Association) players are fantastic physical specimens and yet they get injured all the time," he added.

His US promoter Bob Arum has been honest in saying that: "I wasn't very happy."

"An injury would have really wreaked havoc with the fight, so I was not very pleased."

But Arum said Pacquiao guaranteed him he will stay away with pro ball until after the Macau bout.

Then he joked: "After the fight... if he wants to try out for New York Knicks that's OK with me."

Arum had not found it essential to try and prevent Pacquiao from engaging in other activities.

"With Manny we have a different kind of relationship, one based on mutual respect and mutual trust, and so we won't put it in a contract," Arum added.

He faces Algieri in Macau on November 23.

(Source: Yahoo Sports)