by James Slater – A mild-mannered person who is never one to use trash-talk, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has, for the first time, let go with something approaching a verbal volley towards pound-for-pound #2 and possible future foe Floyd Mayweather Junior.
In being quoted by ESPN.com, the Filipino idol suggested “Money” may be afraid of him, or unready to fight him at the present time, and that this is the real reason their would be super-fight is not happening and may never actually happen..
“What I believe is Floyd Mayweather is not ready at this time to fight with me,” Pacquiao said. “That’s why he makes the reasons to cancel the fight. I feel bad and disappointed because he is accusing me of using drugs or whatever and trying to ruin my name in boxing. People know I have been successful through God and hard work.
“Maybe he is afraid of me or maybe [he] is not ready for this fight.”
That’s about as aggressive Pac-Man has ever got when it comes to speaking about another fighter. Even here, though he is certainly annoyed a great deal more than his words imply – and after what Mayweather has said with regards to him being “on something” he sure is entitled to be annoyed – Pacquiao has remained reserved and even polite. But make no mistake, Floyd, if he reads what Pacquiao has said about him being “scared” will feel some annoyance of his own. Expect to read a retort, and very probably a far more colourful one, from the 33-year-old soon!
As for Pacquiao’s preparations for the fight he has got next, against the tough and strong Joshua Clottey, reports from Inside Sports say the southpaw star’s trainer Freddie Roach will bring in some new sparring partners for Manny this week, because he has been making easy work of the guys he’s been working with.
Reportedly, Manny has been looking “incredible” in sparring with Mike Dallas, Abdullai Amidu and the world class Steve “Two-Pounds” Forbes. Reportedly looking faster and stronger than ever before, Pacquiao needs to be tested further in the gym.
It sounds as though Clottey, already an underdog, has one very hard night ahead of him on March 13th. However, the former IBF welterweight champion, as has also been reported, on various sites, has been pushing himself to the limit in his own training camp. Maybe we will truly be in for something special when the two great fighters clash in Dallas a week on Saturday!