MANILA – Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao clarified he is not looking forward to fighting retired American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. again but a possible rematch will be good to satisfy their fans.
The newly-crowned WBA world super bantamweight champion said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel that while he has other options for his next match, he is not closing his doors on facing the undefeated American fighter.
“On my part, I have no problem with (a rematch) because I’m still active in the sport. That question is for him because he’s retired, so he needs to come back and announce that he will be fighting me,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao added that boxing fans might be clamoring for a rematch as they were unconvinced of the unanimous decision win of Mayweather with the former fighting injured that time.
“I think hindi naman magtatanong ang mga fans kung naniniwala sila na talo ako,” Pacquiao said.
He added: “So I think the fans need one more for the benefit na masagot ang mga tanong nila na paulit-ulit.”
A Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch scenario was floated several times with the latter getting irked recently to the point of accusing the former for using his name to become relevant.
“Kasi sinasabi niya na ginagamit ko ‘yung pangalan niya para sumikat ako. Iba naman ‘yun. Siya nga ‘yung nanonood sa fight ko, so sabi ko para hindi na magtanong ang mga fans, makipaglaban siya sa akin,” Pacquiao said.
“Kasi ako, nabo-bother din sa tanong ng mga fans na kailan kayo mag-rematch ni Mayweather. Sa pagkaka-alam ko retired na siya,” added the eight-division world boxing champion./PN