Pacquiao tweets, calls Ali ‘The Greatest’

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao yesterday honored Muhammad Ali as “The Greatest.”

Days after the former heavyweight champion called on Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing superstar responded with his own tweet.

“God Bless You, Muhammad. YOU are The Greatest,” said Pacquiao in a short tweet to his 1.2 million followers.

Pacquiao made sure his message got to Ali and Mayweather as well.

Last Sunday, just after Mayweather survived Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Ali posted a tweet that was read around the world.

After congratulating Mayweather for the victory, Ali called on the undefeated American to finally consider facing Pacquiao inside the ring.

Ali’s tweet went like, “Maybe after you rest up we can see you rumble with @MannyPacquiao!”

Since it was posted, Ali’s message has been re-tweeted over 26,000 times. 

Mayweather has not responded to the tweet.

Pacquiao said it all depends on Mayweather if the fight that everybody wants to see will ever take place.

“It’s up to him. My line is open 24 hours a day,” said Pacquiao.

But in an interview with ABS-CBN, the 35-year-old superstar said Mayweather must be looking at the perfect time to make it happen.

With the victory over Maidana, the American stretched his record to a perfect 46-0 with a couple more fights left in his contract with Showtime.

Mayweather must be eyeing a 50-0 record before he retires and he must be saving Pacquiao for his 50th fight. If he beats Pacquiao, then he can retire and call himself “The Greatest.”

“Yan ang inaabangan ng tao – na matuloy na yung laban. Maraming tao na gusto makita ang laban na yun (That’s what the people are waiting for – for that fight to happen),” said Pacquiao.

He thinks Mayweather is looking for the perfect timing to make the fight.

“Hindi pa maganda ang panahon para sa kanya kaya hindi pa siya lalaban (The timing is not yet good for him so he won’t fight yet),” said Pacquiao.