MANILA, Philippines ? Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao revealed his New Year’s resolution on Tuesday, at the same time taunting arch-rival Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Shortly after Mayweather completed a two-minute demolition of Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an “exhibition match” in Tokyo, Pacquiao posted his resolution on Twitter.
“Here is an early New Year’s resolution. To continue to only fight experienced opponents who are my size or bigger,” said Pacquiao on his verified account.
Here is an early New Year’s resolution. To continue to only fight experienced opponents who are my size or bigger. @PBC @TGBPromotions @SHOSports @ShowtimeBoxing @MGMGrandGarden @AXS #PacquiaoBroner ? Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) December 31, 2018
While he did not name names, Pacquiao appeared to criticize Mayweather’s “fight.”
The 20-year-old Nasukawa was a kickboxing phenomenon with a 28-0 win-loss record, but the exhibition match was held under boxing rules.
Mayweather toyed with the Japanese briefly, before flooring him with a left hook after just a minute.
READ: Floyd Mayweather Jr. destroys Tenshin Nasukawa in exhibition bout
Mayweather then overwhelmed Nasukawa with a flurry of punches, forcing the Japanese fighter’s corner to throw in the towel. The bout was over with a minute to go in the first round; Mayweather had hinted on Instagram that he would earn $9 million for the exhibition match.
But the bout was roundly criticized as a farce, with many noting Nasukawa’s inexperience as a boxer as well as the clear size difference between the two men.
I have always said @FloydMayweather is a great fighter. But to think he deserves to be praised for pummeling a fighter who A, had never boxed before and B, is a super bantamweight, is ridiculous. This was a joke that shouldn?t have been allowed to occur. ? Kevin Iole (@KevinI) December 31, 2018
Mayweather stressed that the fight was just for exhibition, and had no bearing on either fighter’s perfect records. He said it did not signal his coming out of retirement.
“I’m still retired,” he said. “I don’t look forward to coming back to boxing. I did it just to entertain fans in Japan.”
Pacquiao is set to see action again on Jan. 19 against Mayweather’s former prot?g?, Adrien Broner, in a welterweight title defense.
The bout will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
