Manny Pacquiao Still Hopes That The Fight With Floyd Mayweather Will Happen
Manny Pacquiao took time off his training camp to fly to Hongkong to promote his fight against Chris Algieri on Nov. 22. The eight division Filipino world champion has spent his day with the press and among the questions thrown at him is the much-anticipated fight between him and Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao told the Chinese press via The Telegraph that he is still hoping to meet Mayweather in the ring. He said that he is "crossing his fingers" that the fight could finally materialize in 2015. "Hopefully, that fight will happen next year," Pacquiao said.
As much as Pacquiao wants to talk about the fight with Mayweather, he said that his main focus right now is his bout against Algier. Pacquiao added that the best time to start talking about the Mayweather fight is after the Algieri fight.
Pacquaio admitted that he does not plan on retiring just yet. "I will continue my boxing career, the journey will continue in my boxing career and we'll see what happens."
In a news report by Rappler, Roach said that Pacquiao is most efficient at 140 pounds. "He's much more productive at that weight," Roach said. "It's much more natural for him to fight at that weight," he added. The Hall of Fame Trainer said that the only reason why Pacquiao fought at 147 pounds is because of the money. Mayweather had fought at 147 pounds since 2005.
On the topic of Pacquiao's next fight, Roach said that reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Lightweight titlist Danny Garcia would be a worthy opponent for his protégé.
Given that Garcia is being handled by Al Haymon, who also works with Mayweather, Roach has qualms that the fight would even materialize. Roach said that Haymon and his fighters are frightened to fight Pacquiao because the Filipino boxer could torment them in the boxing ring. "Al Haymon, I met him twice, he's a very nice guy but I don't think he's good for boxing."
Garcia told Fight Hype that he is willing to fight anyone. He thinks that a fight with Pacquiao would be a good one, but his promoter still gets to pick who he fights.
In case Pacquaio consents to move to junior welterweight or light welterweight, other contenders include Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner, Ruslan Provodnikov and Lamont Peterson. In the meantime, Pacquiao will have his eyes set in his fight against Algieri in Macau, China, where his WBO Welterweight title is at stake. The bout will be staged at The Venetian Macao Resort and Casino.
