MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao, who’s still hoping to make the fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. happen next year, is not going to like what the flamboyant American just said.
Mayweather, busy drumbeating his Sept. 14 showdown against Canelo Alvarez, said the Filipino champion in eight different weight classes is done.
“Pacquiao’s a has-been, his career is over,†Mayweather said during the San Antonio stop of the whirlwind press tour for his next fight.
It’s no longer surprising to hear Mayweather say nasty things about Pacquiao after repeated attempts to pit them together fell apart.
Mayweather, 36, undefeated in 44 fights, anchored his statement on the fact that Pacquiao, two years younger, just lost two in a row.
Pacquiao, who went undefeated in seven years, absorbed a highly-questionable loss to Tim Bradley and a scary knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez last year.
Mayweather looked at it as a sign that Pacquiao’s fighting days are over.
“(Juan) Manuel Marquez is a legend. I commend him,†said Mayweather, who came out of retirement and outpointed the 39-year-old Mexican in 2009.
The Digital Journal also quoted Mayweather as saying the Pacquiao was a media creation.
“You guys (the media) built Pacquiao up to this level, and said he was better than Floyd Mayweather.... you guys did.
“I’m not pointing a finger at no particular figure. I’m going to stay in my lane and I’m pretty sure that Pacquiao will stay in his lane,†Mayweather said.
Pacquiao, who just won a second term as congressman in Sarangani, is scheduled to face Brandon Rios on Nov. 24 in Macau.
It’s a fight that Pacquiao can’t afford to lose because a third straight loss will only reinforce Mayweather’s belief that he is indeed done.
But things could change if Pacquiao scores an impressive victory over the younger Rios. It could put Pacquiao back up the ladder.
Pacquiao, who hasn’t fought since November, said he’s still open to a fifth fight with Marquez or Mayweather.
But only if they want to.