For Manny Pacquiao, Joshua Clottey is another opponent. The boxer that Pacman is really fighting mad at is undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference at Madison Square Garden, the Pinoy Idol made it crystal clear that he is still fuming at illegal drug use allegations made which came out of the Mayweather camp.
I looked directly into Megamanny’s big, brown eyes and asked the 50-3-2, 38 KOs welterweight champion why he’s filed a lawsuit in Las Vegas against those he maintains perpertrated the charges that he is a boxing cheater.
“Because they ruined my reputation and my name in boxing,” Pacquiao said as he sat on a dais not far from his March 13 Dallas Cowboys Stadium opponent.
“I know I am in the right,” Pacquiao said.
Pacman did not rule out a future fight against Money Mayweather but said he is not disappointed about how the deal fizzled out.
Pacman, Bob Arum, Clottey and team owner Jerry Jones in Dallas (Top Rank, Chris Farina)
“I believe that fight will happen,” the 31 year old Pacquiao said. “It will happen sometime in the future. But I am not disappointed now because I am not the one who did not want the fight to happen (now).”
He did not have stack of Bibles in front of him but Pacman swore that he is clean athlete.
“I have never done this in my life, never in my boxing career. I believe in God and the only way I know is to train hard and then to fight hard. That is all I have,” Pacquiao said.
I asked Pacman if he really thought Mayweather used the random blood test demands to dodge the fight.
“I think he did it because he thinks is the smartest guy out there. I think he thinks that way because, maybe, he has never lost. Maybe what he needs is to stay humble. I think he is worried about losing his (undefeated) record if he fights me.”
A woman asked “the Mexicutioner” if he would face any more opponents from that country.
Pacquiao handled that like the politician he aspires to be.
“I have a lot of respect for the Mexican fighters I have fought and for the Mexican fans,” Pacquiao said. “I thank the Mexicna people for being so good to me.”
As to his campaign for office from Sarangani, I asked Manny why he thought he would win this time when he lost when he ran for office in his hometown of General Santos City. He compared his upcoming campaign to training for a fight.
“I will do better this time because I am better prepared,” Pacquiao said.
And what if Sugar Shane Mosley fights Mayweather in May?
“If they do fight, that is a good fight,” Pacquiao said. “I think the fight may go to Mosley.”
