As his final career fight approaches, Manny Pacquiao has insisted that he's remained as physically capable in the ring as a decade ago.

Pacquiao returns to the ring for what he claims to be the final time on April 9th, when he faces Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

"I don't feel different compared (with) when I was 27, 25," Pacquiao said. "I am still the same because I discipline myself. Even if I don't have a fight and I am not in training, I always exercise every day."

Pacquiao aggravated a shoulder injury during last May's decision loss to Floyd Mayweather and underwent surgery five days later.

He said Tuesday his shoulder had recovered and he was in "100 percent" condition to take on Bradley.

After overseeing training on Monday, long-time American mentor Freddie Roach also said he suspected Pacquiao would be tempted back into the ring if he beats Bradley.

"I'll go along with him right now because he is running for senator," Roach told AFP, when asked if he believed Pacquiao genuinely intended to retire.

"But there's always that side of me that sees Senator Pacquiao (fight again). Because he likes that, he loves stuff like that," Roach said.

Pacquiao is on track to win one of 12 Senate seats in the elections, according to recent surveys, with his sporting heroics largely responsible for his political popularity.

However, success is not guaranteed.

Pacquiao has been heavily criticised by some in the Philippines for a dismal attendance record as a congressman that they argue highlights a lack of political conviction.

Pacquiao, an evangelical Protestant, also apologised via social media on Tuesday after saying on the campaign trail that homosexuals were "worse than animals".

"It's common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female," Pacquiao told television station TV5.

After a barrage of criticism, Pacquiao asked for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry for comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt," he said in a video post on Instagram.