| Mayweather vs Pacquiao: ‘A Godzilla’ |
| Written by staff | ||
| Friday, 20 March 2009 07:08 | ||
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. is coming out of retirement with Manny Pacquiao foremost in his mind. But the former pound-for-pound king, who last saw action in December 2007, believes it will not be wise to trade punches with his successor right away. According to Don Rafael of ESPN.com, two sources privy to negotiations for the unbeaten Mayweather’s return bared that the American superstar wants to take on the winner of the Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown on May 2 in Las Vegas. Also high on Mayweather’s hit list are the reinvigorated Shane Mosley and Mexican world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. According to the sources, though, Mayweather “knows there is one Godzilla, and that’s a fight with Pacquiao.” Mayweather’s return to the ring has been widely speculated on after he was seen sparring in his Las Vegas gym. Both Rafael’s sources claimed Mayweather’s team has talked to HBO about whether he could fight on July 11, during that month’s edition of “World Championship Boxing.” In December last year, the 32-year-old Mayweather (39-0 with 25 KOs), reportedly told his advisers, Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe, that they could entertain offers for fights. Even the fighter’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., who trains Hatton in Manchester, is convinced his son is going to fight again. Meanwhile, Hatton said he has progressed immensely under Floyd Sr.’s watch. Interviewed by SportingLife.com of the United Kingdom, Hatton boasted that Pacquiao is in for a shock on fight night because he would be a lot different fighter—“faster, stronger and more tactical.” Pacquiao is silently going through hard work at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Though only in his second week of training, Pacquiao already flashed brilliant form, knocking down sparmate Art Hovhannesyan in the second round and inflicting a cut on the upper eyelid in the fourth on Wednesday. Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza told ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol” on Wednesday that Pacquiao “is going to shock everybody at how strong he is at 140 pounds.” Pacquiao, however, is convinced that his speed will be the key to victory against Hatton. Although he feels his training is on the right track, Pacquiao said there’s a lot more that needs to be done before he attains peak form. |
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