NEXT target: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
After totally outclassing Joshua Clottey, Manny Pacquiao is training his guns on Mayweather Jr., the undefeated American fighter whose mouth is bigger than his heart.
"I want the Mayweather fight because the people want to see it. That's a good fight. I am willing to fight but it's up to him," Pacquiao told Fightfan.com after his masterful 12-round decision victory over Clottey before 50,994 fans at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The 31-year-old Pacquiao actually had another fight coming after Clottey--the congressional battle in Sarangani this coming May 10 polls--but his latest conquest is keeping the prospect of a showdown with the undefeated Mayweather very much alive.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were groomed to figure in a mega fight months ago, but talks collapsed after the American insisted of an Olympic-style blood testing.
Pacquiao instead fought Clottey and Mayweather is scheduled to face Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's famed American trainer," insisted his ward will easily beat Mayweather if they ever meet on the ring.
"We will crush him," Roach said.
Against Clottey, Pacquiao failed to score a knockout in keeping his WBO welterweight crown, although he dominated the Ghanaian right from the opening bell with crisp shots to the head and punishing blows to the body.
The Filipino kept on looking for the opening and tried to break down his challenger's defense, a reminder of what it would be if he fights Mayweather whose mastery in focusing more on defense rather than fighting makes him one of the unexciting boxers the world has seen. (With a report from AP)