Manny Pacquiao is busy preparing for his upcoming title defense against Chris Algieri, but the Filipino boxing icon admitted that he is still setting his sights on a possible showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year.
Pacquiao, who will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on November 22 against Algieri in Macau, said in an interview with The Philippine Star that he wants to give boxing fans the fight that they want - the super fight against Mayweather in 2015.
"I do have one specific goal and that is to give the boxing fans the fight they have always asked for," Pacquiao said of the possible record-setting bout against Mayweather. "I want that fight too. I believe good negotiations could produce the fight."
However, Pacquiao pointed out that it takes two to tango, pointing out that the fight won't happen if Mayweather's camp continues to make ridiculous demands. Previous negotiations for the fight went down after the two fighters' camp failed to hit a common ground because both camp's had their own demands.
"It is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table," Pacquiao stressed. "Two fighters who want to fight each other have never been kept from fighting each other."
Freddie Roach also voiced out his desire to stage the Pacquiao vs Mayweather showdown in 2015, but he also reiterated that Mayweather should stop making excuses to prevent the fight from happening.
"I don't know if it'll ever come off. I hope it does because I know Manny can beat him," Roach said via The Philippine Star. "But from what I hear, Mayweather refuses to work with Top Rank and will only fight at the MGM because they pay him to fight there. Mayweather has a great deal with Showtime. Even if Showtime loses on his fights, he ends up making lots of money so I can't see that changing."
Both fighters are nearing retirement, creating speculation that the proposed super showdown, which could break all boxing records in terms of revenue, might not happen at all.
Pacquiao insisted that he will continue fighting as long as his body tells him to do so, but Mayweather recently hinted that he might call it quits for good after two fights next year.
