MANNY PACQUIAO says Floyd Mayweather is “envious” that he is still a boxing world champion.
The Filipino hit back after Mayweather described him as an “old man” in an interview with Fight Hype.
Manny Pacquiao believes Floyd Mayweather is jealous that he is a world championCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Floyd Mayweather retired undefeated and is set on becoming a trainerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Pacquiao rolled back the years to hand Keith Thurman his first ever pro defeat in July last year to become a world champion once again.
That means the 41-year-old is just one off tying with his nemesis Mayweather of beating the most world champions.
Mayweather,43, defeated 23 world class fighters during his undefeated career – one of which was Pacquiao himself.
But the American, who is becoming a trainer, has called for the young breed coming through to fight each other instead of “chasing this old man”.
MAYWEATHER ‘JEALOUS’
Understandably that hasn’t gone down too well with PacMan.
He told the Manila Times: “He is just envious because he’s already retired. We’re still active and have a crown.
“I’m not thinking about that (retirement) yet. I’m concerned first and foremost about our countrymen and about how to resolve this pandemic.”
Mayweather beat Pacquiao in 2015 before two years later officially retiring from professional boxing after fighting UFC star Conor McGregor.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing down and won the WBA welterweight title against Thurman last summer.
The Filipino great has since been called out by Errol Spence Jr, 30, Terence Crawford, 32, Mikey Garcia, also 32 and even 21-year-old prospect Ryan Garcia.
Pacquiao, though, has registered the most interest in rematching Mayweather, after the 50-0 American announced last year that he was “coming out of retirement in 2020”.
But Mayweather insisted he is not interested in lacing up the gloves to face regular boxers, citing he has nothing left to prove.
This has opened the door for a potential for another crossover fight against McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Floyd Mayweather proved just too good for Manny Pacquaio when the pair fought in 2015Credit: AP:Associated Press
Manny Pacquiao looks lethal in training aged 41 in coronavirus lockdown with fans excited for ring return
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
