Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather: "Not Going to Happen" or Simply Not Yet?
Trainer Says Pacquiao 50% Ready for the World Welterweight Title Fight vs Timothy Bradley
Not yet, Manny Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather still does not want to face you in the boxing ring, the latest boxing news seem to show. Or perhaps, it is not going to happen, ever, if the latter's word will hold.
Pacquiao's avid supporters from his home country and around the world have been waiting for the time when Mayweather would finally stop merely talking about him and instead just face the Philippines' boxing champion in the ring. However, it seems Mayweather's mind is all made up.
In response to questions involving Pacquiao after his win against Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, Mayweather told international media:
"The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is not going to happen... It is not my fault."
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather did not want to compromise on their desired conditions if they would be in a boxing match. Both personalities as well as their parties have mentioned two factors: one, Pacquiao wants to stay with promoter Bob Arum, but Mayweather wanted nothing to do with him; and two, Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to accept only $20 million for the fight, the latter wanted a 50-50 share knowing both of them could make much more than what Mayweather was offering. Unless their positions change, Mayweather was probably spot on in saying it is "not going to happen."
Still, the Filipino boxer's followers will still see some action soon, as Pacquiao will face the unbeaten Timothy Bradley for the world welterweight title next month in Las Vegas.
In an interview with Chris Robinson, Bradley spared no words in expressing his confidence against Pacquiao, saying, "(I)t's going to be an easy fight."
"I'm not saying that Pacquiao is going to lay down or whatever, but I just think that what I bring to the ring, I think it's going to make it extremely hard for him. I know what Pacquiao likes to do. I think everybody knows what he likes to do. But I think with my style alone and my ability and my way to be able to adjust in the ring, I think that's going to be a handful in itself. ... And then, on top of that, you've got my speed, you got my power, you got my determination on top of that."
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, is not being complacent about the upcoming boxing battle. Fresh from their high altitude training camp in the Philippines' summer capital, Baguio City, Roach told reporters there is still much work to be done to get Pacquiao in perfect shape for next month.
"Manny's in between 40 to 50 percent ready at the moment, but he'll be ready to reclaim that pound-for-pound best fighter title," Roach told reporters.
Asked what he thinks of Bradley, Pacquiao's trainer said:
"He's never been knocked down, never been KOed, and has been announcing daily what he intends to do with Manny," Roach added. "Well, I supposed that's his way of promoting himself, but we'll see."
Bradley carries an impressive 29-0 record, with 12 Kos. Pacquiao, on the the other hand, has a record of 54 wins with 38KOs, 3 losses and 2 draws.
While the press has noted that Bradley has said a lot more than necessary in his interviews and global boxing news, even going to as far as saying that he can also beat Mayweather, everything will all be mere speculations until Bradley and Pacquiao face off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV on June 9.