Manny Pacquiao fights to inspire people but the pugilist politician from The Philippines has told The Telegraph that he anticipates fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the United States and Amir Khan in Britain if 2015 goes according to plan. The Telegraph joined Pacquiao for an exclusive sitdown interview ahead of the final press conference before he defends the World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown against American Chris Algieri at the Venetian Hotel on the Cotai Strip, in Macau, China in the early hours of Sunday morning. “This has been one of my greatest camps since we started my career in America. The hunger, speed and quickness is back. I’m not feeling pressure, but I’m not predicting the outcome of the fight, either. We made the sacrifices in the camp, and if the knockout comes, it comes,” said Pacquiao, who fights for the 64th time against unbeaten Algieri, who is 20-0 in his career Pacquiao was enthusiastic about the prospect of fighting Amir Khan at Wembley Stadium, which could be a blockbuster event. Khan has said he would relish fighting ‘Pacman’ there, with the pair having sparred regularly in Los Angeles in the past.
“That’s good, if the fight will be in England, that’s a good idea,” said Pacquiao. “But it will depend on my promoter. My job is a boxer, to train and to prepare and to fight. And I’m willing to fight anybody as long as there is no problem with my promoter.” One fight the world wishes to see is Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jnr. They are the two most decorated fighters of this generation and the contest would generate upwards of a quarter of a billion US dollars. “That’s also a very interesting fight, that people want to see and hopefully by next year that fight will happen. I want to make that fight happen because I’ve been bothered by that question from fans thousands of times.” “It’s in the fans hands what they think, but I’m willing to fight Floyd Mayweather. For me, I’m happy with what I have done in boxing, and of course, I would be even happier if I fought Floyd.” “Everyone talks about legacy, and I’m not boasting when I say this, but what I have done in boxing is a big legacy, because I have captured (world titles in) eight different weight divisions.” “But outside boxing, my legacy is to inspire people. It is God’s will. And that is why I fight with a smile on my face.” Pacquiao v Algieri is live on BoxNation on Saturday night. Follow Boxing Correspondent Gareth A Davies live blog from ringside.
