Duda si dating light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins na matutuloy ang laban nina WBC at WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. at WBO welterweight 147 pounds titlist Manny Pacquiao sa Mayo 2 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I think if Floyd Mayweather really wants to fight him (Pacquiao), he would be announcing it right now,” sabi ni Hopkins sa BoxingScene.com. “That’s one side to look at it.”
Bagamat inihayag ni Mayweather na gusto nitong labanan si Pacquiao sa naturang petsa, naniniwala si Hopkins na lalabanan ng hambog na Amerikano ang Pinoy boxer sa huling laban nito sa kontrata sa Showtime.
“If we start getting into the end of February and the start of March, people are not going to talk about him fighting Pacquiao,” giit ni Hopkins.
VP Sara, tahasang iginiit na hindi niya binoto si Romuadlez
Sinabi naman ng dating sparring partner ni Pacquiao na si ex-IBF welterweight title holder Shawn Porter na maniniwala lamang siya na matutuloy ang laban kapag lumagda sa kontrata si Mayweather.
“What is going to happen, man?” tanong ni Porter. “I honestly thought it wouldn’t happen and I told myself that I wouldn’t pay attention to it until it is signed. I just pay attention to my own career.”
Ngunit kung matutuloy ang laban ay paborito niyang manalo si Pacquiao kaysa sa kababayan.
“For me I think that (Manny) is the favorite because he is a little more versatile than Floyd at this point in his career,” ani Porter. “ I think Floyd likes to use his defense and counter punch while Manny does a little bit of everything and does it from a southpaw position. That is a great fight and hopefully I get the winner.”
Matagal na naging sparring partner ni Pacquiao si Porter kaya naniniwala siya na kayang makipagsabayan sa Pilipino at maging kay Mayweather.
“Just being in the ring with Manny I know that I can compete with him and beat him. Even though I lost my last fight it doesn’t matter. I am still healthy and still fit and I can beat him,” dagdag ni Porter. “Also going up against a legend like Floyd Mayweather, you can’t pass that up. I had been told I would get the opportunity and then told I wouldn’t so I am not banking on fighting either of those guys but I would love (either fight).”
