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Philippines, 11 Apr 2026 |
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Manny Pacquiao appeared on ESPN's First Take and raises Stephen A. Smith's blood pressure By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Thu, 12 Mar 2015  The public knows that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith does not believe that Manny Pacquiao has a chance of beating Floyd Mayweather Jr. years before their May 2nd fight was made. And he's not about to change his opinion now that the fight was made official for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. However, Manny Pacquiao does not care and in Wednesday morning's episode of 'First Take' on ESPN 2, the Filipino boxing superstar told Smith all the things that the commentator did not expect to hear from the polite boxer- and managed to raise his blood pressure a couple of millimeters in the mercury scale. ?He?s (Mayweather) afraid of losing,? was Pacquiao?s reply to host Skip Bayless? question on why Mayweather Jr. ?was so afraid to fight you in five years?? Smith went blank, took off his glasses and stared at Pacquiao at the monitor and blurted, ?Afraid of losing? Did you just say that on national TV, that Floyd is afraid of you? Is that what you just said?? ?Yes,? Pacquiao replied and Smith was just flabbergasted or is acting like one that is. And then Pacquiao raised the unintentional trash talking to another level when he said that he was ?more worried when he fought Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito than this fight.? Pacquiao also added that Mayweather may have hand speed but not the foot speed to match his hands.? ?I?ve got good hand speed and I have good foot work. It?s a combination,? was Pacquiao?s assessment of his advantage over his rival. ?The blasphemy coming out of you, I like you Manny but this is not good for you. In your heart, you think he is scared of you. You were more worried about Oscar De La Hoya who is old, Miguel Cotto who was slow and Margarito? You can see Margarito?s punches coming from a mile away and you were more concerned of them than Floyd ?Money? Mayweather?, the disrespect Manny,? cried out Smith. ?I am giving you a chance to take it back, I am giving you a chance to take it back, Take it back Manny, take it back Manny, this is your last chance,? pleaded Smith. ?No I won?t,? responded Pacquiao who told Smith that he is a hundred and one percent of his belief that Mayweather Jr. is less of a threat than the fighters mentioned above - and an overexcited Smith oozed out ?Ooohs? in disbelief. Pacquiao did not stop there and declared that ?beating Floyd Mayweather is good for boxing.? ?Why is it good for boxing? What are you trying to say?? asked Smith. ?I am not pointing anybody but a lot of athletes when they have success in their lives, their success go to their head,? Pacquiao answered, obviously referring to Mayweather?s persona in and out of the ring. ?You?ve insulted him in five different ways. I hope you know that Floyd is watching this, I hope you know,? Smith told Pacquiao. And then Pacquiao turned preacher-like when he told the host that ?I will tell you this, the Lord my God that I am serving will deliver him to my hands on May 2.? Smith smiled and giggled upon hearing the statement and then said, ?Manny Pacquiao, you are one of the best people I know, I love you, but you will fall on May 2nd, you will fall on May 2nd,? Smith told the guesting boxer as his co-hosts let out ?wows and whoahs.? ?I don?t want you harm, I want you okay Manny, I want you to sing, I want you to run for office, I want you to win the election, I want you to do all the great things that you do, but this one fight. You are going to pay for that Manny, Oh my goodness, Oh, Oh, Oh Manny,? Smith exclaimed. Pacquiao is not a fan of ?trash talk? to hype a fight, his responses on ESPN is the closest to one that we?ll ever hear from him ? hence, the disbelief on Smith?s face. If Stephen A. Smith did not drink his morning cup of coffee this morning, he need not to anymore. Pacquiao just warmed him up and everybody else that is watching Wednesday morning, hours before his official press conference with Mayweather in Los Angeles and less than two months before their bout. You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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