Manny PacquiaoManny Pacquiao took up Floyd Mayweather Jr’s shout-out that the boxers finally book a long-awaited clash on May 2, the Filipino insisting money was no object and that they owed it to the sport to fight each other.
Mayweather, in remarks to Showtime TV last Friday, said Pacquiao was not worthy of a 50-50 split in his proposed showdown, which would likely become the highest grossing pay-per-view bout in history if the match were made.
Eight-division world champion Pacquiao appeared ready to accommodate the undefeated American.
“Mayweather can get the amount he wants. As early as January this year, I challenged him to a charity fight. Until now, he has not agreed to it. So, money is not the issue in our fight,” Pacquiao said on his official website.
The two champions, boxing’s top drawing cards, have danced around a possible clash for roughly five years, with disputes over purses and drug-testing preventing a match being made.
“We are ready. Let’s make it happen. May 2. Let’s do it,” the 37-year-old American, who fights at welterweight and light middle-weight, said.
As befits their familiar verbal sparring, Pacquiao promised he would deliver an exciting fight despite the defensive skills so often displayed by Mayweather.
“He has reached a dead end. He has nowhere to run but to fight me,” Pacquiao (57-5-2) said.
“I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fight.
“But I doubt if he’s going to engage me in a slugfest. You all know his fighting style. Most of his previous fights, if not all, induced us to sleep.”
Pacquiao dominated Chris Algieri in November to retain his WBO welterweight title in his last bout, while Mayweather won a unanimous decision over Marcos Maidana to retain his twin WBC titles in September.