“Broke your heart?”: That’s what Manny Pacquiao asked ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on his radio show in New York after he answered his question about Floyd Mayweather, Jr. being afraid to fight him.
“I think it’s kind of that,” answered Pacquiao, who was all smiles and giggles, when the outspoken broadcaster, who has vocally pledged his allegiance to the undefeated American fighter, asked him if he thinks Mayweather is afraid to fight him.
“What can I do?” Pacquiao said after being pressed further about the question in a follow up interview on Smith’s radio show moments after Pacquiao appeared on national TV stating his feelings about Mayweather. “It’s up to him. I can’t convince him; whatever he wants. If he wants that deal, then the fight will happen.”
The deal Pacquiao was elaborating on was his acceptance of a smaller split (45-55) and agreeing to all the drug test demands Mayweather had been harping on for the past couple of years. “They already know, and now I am announcing again (on radio and TV) what the offer is.”
Video: Manny Pacquiao follow-up interview on ESPN Radio; says Mayweather is scared and simply making alibis
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The main reason, Pacquiao believes, is Mayweather’s fears of losing, and the consequences a loss brings. In a separate interview Pacquiao mentioned that Mayweather had told him that if he loses, he will not have anything else, unlike Pacquiao, who can become a senator and is a beloved figure in the Philippines with many other things to fall back on.
“There’s so many things; he makes alibis, I don’t know, that’s why I’m hoping he changes his mind and ‘let’s get it on’,” said the 8-division champion, who was also hailed as the Fighter of the Decade.
Pacquiao’s statements backs Mayweather in a corner, who has always claimed he would beat the Filipino in dominating fashion. This fight has been held up by all kinds of ridiculousness for so long, and anyone who insists that Mayweather shouldn’t take the 55-45 split, needs to look themselves in the mirror and wonder if they are truly boxing fans or simply a Mayweather groupie.
Both men stand to make a ton of money. Pacquiao has always stated his willingness to fight Mayweather. On the other hand, it’s been the undefeated Mayweather who has thrown all kinds of wrenches on negotiations that have kept the fight from moving forward. If Mayweather truly doesn’t want to fight Pacquiao, then he should just say it instead of all the drama and keeping fans on hostage. It’s as simple as that.
