WBA world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao intends to avoid answer all the questions surrounding his old opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is perceived by some as the best boxer of all time.
Again, one might think that Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) would initiate such conversations. The former eight-weight division champion and future Hall of Famer appeared in the media this Wednesday, with the goal of increasing fan interest in his upcoming bout with undefeated welterweight champion Keith Thurman (29-0-0, 22 KOs).
The two boxers will battle each other on July 20, in a Fox Sports Par-Per-View duel at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A press tour in two cities with both boxers and those involved in the promotion kicked off in New York this Tuesday, before ending in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao visited the Fox Sports studio to talk about his next fight.
But the Filipino also talked of another fight he has always coveted: a rematch with Mayweather against whom he lost a 12-round decision in May 2015 in what was the most lucrative fight in history.
Manny Pacquiao will defend his title against Keith Thurman on July 20. (Source:www.latimes.com)
“It’s really important for me to get a rematch with Floyd. Some of the fans are still questioning who won the fight.” Pacquiao said.
“I still think I deserved the win. But as I said, I respect the judges. That’s why we want a rematch; people always have a lot of question marks in their minds.” Pacquiao added.
Mayweather did not show any particular interest in a rematch with Pacquiao. The former five-division champion earned around $ 250 million for this event, which made him the world’s highest-paid athlete of the year history.
The 41-year-old American has only fought twice since that shock. He won a 12-round tie against Andre Berto in September 2015, and a win over UFC star Conor McGregor, who was making his boxing debut in August 2017.
Mayweather and Pacquiao were talked about last September, sharing a post saying that a rematch between the two was going to happen, but since things have changed and Pacquiao has in mind a theory about it.
“I think he’s afraid to fight me again,” Pacquiao said.
“He keeps avoiding me and he’s always going to keep avoiding me, and that will be the case especially after I win my fight in July. But you never know, maybe he’ll make a comeback.” He added.
