Muling idiniin ni WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao ang paghamon sa kanyang katapat sa WBC at WBA na si Floyd Mayweather Jr. sa unification bout sa susunod na taon.
I want that fight,” sabi ni Pacquiao sa Fightnews.com matapos ang kanyang six-knockdown victory laban sa Amerikanong si Chris Algieri kamakalawa sa Macau, China. “But I think I’m the only one talking about that fight.”
Maraming boxing analyst ang nagsasabing lalong hindi lalabanan ni Mayweather si Pacquiao sa ipinakitang lakas ng mga bigwas nito sa panalo kay Algieri.
“The other camp is denying, denying, always denying to talk about that fight,” dagdag ni Pacquiao. “But right now I think the fans are involved in this issue to fight with him so I think the fight has to happen because the fans deserve it… I want that fight to happen.”
Sumegunda naman si Top Rank big boss Bob Arum na nagsabing pagod na sa pakikipagnegosasyon kay Mayweather.
“Speaking for Manny and myself, we’re tired! Every place we go they ask us when is that fight gonna happen? When is it going to be made? You cannot believe the number of times I’m questioned about this by just people, waiters, anybody, who wants to know one question ‘when is the fight gonna happen?’ I say enough is enough!” ani Arum. ”Let’s just make the fight happen. Let’s get it done. And let’s make it the next fight for each fighter sometime in the next six months of next year. That’s our position and we’re going to do what we can to make it happen.”
Gayunman, malaki ang tiwala ni Arum na maikakasa ni CBS head Les Moonves na mother company ng Showtime kung saan may exclusive contract si Mayweather ang sagupaang pinakahihintay ng lahat ng boxing fans.
“I trust Les Moonves. For the head of CBS to spend that much time on something would be counter-productive if it was bullsh*t,” sabi ni Arum sa BoxingScene.com.
“If boxing is to be considered a major sport the fight has to happen. All the nonsense has to cease. Everyone should work together to make that fight happen. There are no excuses any more. I will be at the phone. We are ready [to make the fight].”