LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have each made claims to be the world's best pound-for-pound fighter but a big-money showdown to decide the issue will not happen any time soon.
"Manny is unbelievable. He's the best fighter in the world," Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said. "He is in his prime right now. Anyone in the world, he could beat them all."
Former undisputed welterweight champion Mayweather put himself atop that list a few hours before the Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout by announcing the end of his 17-month retirement and a comeback fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18. Mayweather abdicated the pound-to-pound throne that Pacquiao has claimed by winning four fights in a row in as many weight classes, but the International Boxing Organisation's new junior welterweight champion likes his current size.
"I'm very comfortable at 140 pounds [63.5 kilograms]. You could see it in my performance," Pacquiao said. "I want to stay there."
That's the weighty matter that might delay a showdown with Mayweather, who would not say at what weight he will fight the smaller Marquez because talks are still ongoing between 143 and 144 pounds.
Roach said Mayweather feared facing Pacquiao at a similar catchweight.
"Mayweather, he just had to wait one day and he could have fought Manny. I think he's afraid of Manny," Roach said. "He made the fight maybe not happen. We're not going to wait for him. There are other great fighters out there."
US veteran Shane Mosley and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto, two fighters who have tried in vain to make a deal to fight Mayweather, were mentioned by Roach as possible next foes for Pacquiao. Asked to predict how Pacquiao-Mayweather would end, Roach said: "We win on points." - AFP
Source: brisbanetimes.com.au
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