Floyd Mayweather Jr, Isaiah Thomas

Mayweather, inisnab ang alok na rematch kay Pacquiao.

Inamin ni dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. na mapanukso ang alok na ‘nine-figure’ para sa rematch kay 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, ngunit kagya’t niya itong tinanggihan.

Sa panayam ng BBC Sports, iginiit ni Mayweather na hindi siya nasisiraan ng bait para patusin pa ang mga alok na laban na may kinalaman kay Pacman, bukod sa aniya’y pagiging kontento niya na napantayan ang 49-0 record ni boxing legend at dating world heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

'Iconic women!' Pinakamalaki at pinakamaliit na babae sa buong mundo, nagkita!

“As of right now, I am out completely,” sambit ng 38-anyos five-division world champion.”If I do get the itch to come back, it really won’t be for the money but I have to get paid. That’s why my nickname is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.”

Kinontra rin ni Mayweather ang mga pahayag nina Michael Koncz at Top Rank big boss Bob Arum na nakikipag-ugnayan ang Mayweather Promotions sa kanila para sa posibilidad ng rematch.

“Everything that you guys are hearing that Michael Koncz has said and what [promoter] Bob Arum has said is totally false. Totally false. I haven’t spoken to Bob Arum, I haven’t spoken to Michael Koncz,” pahayag ni Mayweather.

“And as far as people keep talking about Mayweather Promotions, I dictate and control what goes on with it. Leonard Ellerbe is the CEO but everything has to go through me and I have to put the green light on everything.”

Sinabi rin niya na wala siyang pakialam kung sino ang bagong pound-for-pound king, dahil tanging siya lamang umano ang TBE (The Best Ever) sa mundo ng boxing.

“I really wouldn’t want to say the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. You know, I am no longer active. I would like to say the best ever (TBE).” giit ni Mayweather. “It’s not being cocky or arrogant, it’s just the proof is in the pudding. I think I have earned the right to call myself TBE. And I have lived up to the name TBE by going out there, day in, day out, when I was active and winning.”

Sa kabila nang naunang pahayag ni Pacquiao na handa na rin siyang magretiro matapos ang laban kay Timothy Bradley sa Abril 9 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, marami pa rin ang umaasa sa rematch kay Mayweather. (Gilbert Espeña)