Philippines, 05 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SPORTS SHORTS 122: FLOYD MAYWEATHER SAYS MANNY PACQUIAO IS THE BEST FIGHTER HE FOUGHT, JOEL DIAZ WARNS PACMAN THAT GARCIA AND SPENCE WILL HURT HIM


PhilBoxing.com




The former pound-for-pound king Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. recently announced his exhibition fight with YouTube sensation Logan Paul will push through. The exuberant undefeated fighter announced that he would be doing more exhibition bouts rather than fighting a big name real competitor in boxing.

* * *

Last year, it was announced that Mayweather would fight Paul in an exhibition bout on February 20, 2021. The fight was postponed to June 6 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Paul fought KSI to a majority draw in an amateur boxing match. During their professional boxing rematch, KSI defeated Paul by majority decision.

* * *

The former five-division world champion wanted to retire from his boxing career with no health issues. Mayweather had repeatedly declared that his health is his top priority and he would not risk his health in exchange with any amount of money.

* * *

Mayweather is unique among most fighters since he could choose his opponent and would always have the advantage in negotiating for the big slice of the purse and revenue.

* * *

In The Million Dollaz Worth of Game show, Mayweather answered the question on who was his roughest and toughest opponent. He acknowledged his arch rival Manny Pacquiao as the best fighter he has ever fought in his boxing career.

* * *

“The best fighter I ever fought probably was Manny Pacquiao,” Mayweather told host Gillie Da King as quoted by Now Boxing. “It’s because of his movement. He’s a hell of a fighter and I can see why he won so many fights and I can see why he’s going down as a hall of famer. It’s just certain moves that he makes."

* * *

Mayweather also identified Emmanuel Augustus also known as "The Drunken Master" from Brownsville, Texas as his roughest, toughest foe. He fought Augustus whom he stopped via 9th round TKO on October 21, 2000 at the Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan.

* * *

He also said Miguel Cotto was the strongest of his opponents. He defeated the American-born Puerto Rican on May 5, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, to win the WBA (Super) light middleweight title.

* * *

“The roughest fighter probably was a guy named Emmanuel Augustus. The drunken master was tough. He was just tough. Miguel Cotto was very, very, physically strong. You got different fighters. Different days you feel different ways. Some days you can go over there and you may not feel that good, but you go over there and look superb."

* * *

Mayweather last fought UCF MMA star Conor McGregor winning his 50th professional fight. He divulged why he would not make a ring comeback to fight in a real professional match against a top welterweight contender.

* * *

“It’s crazy everybody keeps asking me, why you not coming back to fight?” said Mayweather. “So I look at the fight game and say okay, fighters fight and they make 3 million, 4 million, 6 million, 7 million, some may even make 10 to 20 million."

* * *

"But I’m doing exhibitions and I’m making 20, 25, 100 million for exhibitions. So why would I comeback to fight and get a guarantee of 35 million when I’m doing exhibitions and getting a 100 million," continued Mayweather.

* * *

Mayweather is expected to earn more money fighting YouTube star Logan Paul in an exhibition match and avoid the risk of losing his undefeated record in professional boxing and evade health dangers.

* * *

Trainer Joel Diaz was with Timothy Bradley twice and with Lucas Matthysse once when they fought Pacquiao. He told ESNEWS that he does not support the idea that an old Manny Pacquiao will face young opponents and hopes he hangs up his gloves for good because he has nothing more to prove.

* * *

“He has nothing else to prove anymore,” Diaz told ESNEWS. “All Pacquiao will do facing these young, strong fighters is jeopardize his health. He is already old and honestly he has nothing else to prove. He’s already one of the best fighters in the world. He already made his career. I mean he already became a world champion in 8 divisions."

* * *

Diaz discourages Pacquiao to serve as a springboard for younger fighters, and would like him to imitate Floyd Mayweather who engaged himself in exhibition fights against social media stars and reap handsome earnings.

* * *

“He shouldn’t give these young fighters the privilege of putting him on their record and jeopardize his health. He should just be smart and like Mayweather is doing and generate money putting on exhibitions with a YouTuber and just retire," said Diaz.

* * *

Diaz said he likes Pacquiao and does not want him to fight these younger opponents. "I like Manny Pacquiao. One of the best fighters with much respect, but as a person, as a coach, or a friend or whatever, he shouldn’t be fighting anymore against these strong, young fighters coming up," added Diaz.

* * *

Errol Spence Jr. and Mikey Garcia are being rumored to be the next possible Pacquiao opponents, but Diaz thinks it will be very dangerous for the senator and both boxers will injure him.

* * *

“If he fights Errol Spence Jr., Errol is too strong. He’s young. He’s strong. I think he will hurt Pacquiao. If he fights Mikey Garcia, Mikey is really good and very precise with that right hand, as you can see when he fought Jessie Vargas, I think he can hurt him too," added Diaz.

* * *

“These young legitimate fighters will hurt Manny Pacquiao, not because they are better, it’s because of the age. Manny Pacquiao is already at an age where he shouldn’t be fighting," concluded Diaz.

* * *

Kennedy McKinney of USA won the 1988 Seoul Olympic gold medal in the bantamweight class. He became professional world champion winning the IBF super bantamweight (1992-1994) and WBO super bantamweight (1997-1997) titles.

* * *

Ray Mercer of USA won the 1988 Seoul Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight class. He became professional world champion winning the WBO heavyweight title in 1991.

* * *

Devin Booker topscored with 32 points for the Phoenix Suns to win 123-120 on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Suns (46-18) increased their winning streak to four, now tied with the Utah Jazz for the number one spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix holds the tiebreaker over Utah.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • “I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 02 Feb 2026
  • 76ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
    , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026
  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.