MANILA, Philippines - Floyd Mayweather Jr. isn’t too marvelous in the eyes of Marvin Hagler.
The former world champion yesterday told On the Ropes Boxing Radio there’s more than just the concessions that led to the breakup of negotiations for the Mayweather’s superfight with Manny Pacquiao.
Hagler, who waged some of history’s biggest fights when he squared off with Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran in the ‘80s, said the undefeated Mayweather may be ducking Pacquiao.
“With the Pacquiao and Mayweather fight, I think that Mayweather might be a little scared,” said Hagler, now 55.
The American who ruled the middleweight division from 1980 until 1987 said it’s a pity that fights as big as Mayweather vs Pacquiao can’t be made because of issues that should be settled easily.
Three major issues have kept the superfight up in the air, including the blood-testing procedure, the purse split and a defamation case filed last year by Pacquiao against Mayweather and his handlers.
“But then there’s another thing, and he’s (Mayweather) almost looking like a Sugar Ray Leonard in the type of sense where he is dictating all of the time,” Hagler told the popular radio show.
“Hello! If you’re going to fight, let’s fight! Let’s stop all this stuff. Let’s just get it on! I mean that is what boxing is about. So he’s trying to gain more money or whatever. I mean you already made enough money.
“Do you want to fight the guy? Yes or no? And I think that Pacquiao is saying, ‘Come on! Let’s do it today’. But I wouldn’t wait around for Mayweather,” said Hagler.
He added that he can’t blame Pacquiao for dropping Mayweather and getting on to fight Antonio Margarito instead on Nov. 13 because he feels that the Filipino superstar can make as much money fighting someone else.
Pacquiao, who has risen from 106 lb to 147 lb and became a champion in seven different weight classes, can fight Mike Tyson if he wants to, and make millions just the same.
“Well the thing is, when you want to retire you want to go out knowing you fought the best in the world and this was the only fight that was left for me that meant anything,” said Hagler.
“So normally, you would say ‘I’ll give you anything that you want. I’ll tell you what I’ll do – I’ll even fight you in your living room. I’ll come to your house,” he added.