Floyd Mayweather: If Manny Pacquiao Is No. 1 Pound-for-Pound, Fine

Floyd Mayweather got feisty this week when Brian Kenny suggested to him that Manny Pacquiao had taken the title of No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world away from him. But In an interview on British television, Mayweather said he's fine with it.

"If Manny Pacquiao is now No. 1 pound-for-pound in the media, and the people's eyes, more power to him," Mayweather said in an interview to promote his July 18 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

That's quite a departure from his angry insistence earlier that he's the best in the sport. But Mayweather was quick to add that he's been the best for a long time.

"You're talking about a guy who's No. 1 pound-for-pound for a decade," Mayweather said. "So I'm not sweating it."

My own opinion is that Mayweather's absence from boxing over the last year and a half, combined with Pacquiao's destruction of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, earned Pacquiao the title of No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. But there's only one way to settle it: In the ring.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-23-2009 @ 10:39AM

DM said...

The Mayweather's from Sr. to Roger to Jr. they are all closet Manny Pacquiao fans. I think most boxers are including Oscar. Ricky Hatton said it best, " If I wasn't a boxer, I'd be a Manny Pacquiao fan ".

5-23-2009 @ 7:03PM

dirwin said...

The British is adopting Mayweather Jr. to get even with Pacquiao

5-23-2009 @ 8:37PM

muchbucks20 said...

i beg to disagree, but there's no way anybody can get even with pac right now...he's just at his prime right now and he is indestructible. a couple of years maybe, and possibly hard-hitting guys like cotto or mosley. but floyd? nah...forget it. you can see it in his fighting style. he waits and brings the fight on the ropes and by doing so, he's a sucker for a barrage of punches. if pac doesn't knock him down, pac will win by unanimous decision by a huge margin of score. trust me on this, if they ever gonna face in the future, bet on pac. his physical endurance is remarkable (he's hit with hard punches in every critical points in his body all the way back from the barrera era) and he did not go down, his attack approach is unpredictable and explosive, and he is smart enough to back off when needed to minimize retaliatory attacks (watch the oskie fight and you'll see what i mean). if you break down and analyze pac's skill piece by piece, you'll see that he really has become a complete fighter: offense, defense, attack approach, evasive maneuver, and time management. by the latter i meant that he's learned how to take his time and choose the right time and moment to deliver his piece (which is clearly visible in the hatton fight). bottomline: if you're a smart gambler, gamble on the one that shows a lot of skills and technical know-how.
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5-25-2009 @ 10:16AM

dtate4life said...

I think people are over looking Marquez. I think Pacqiao would be a Marquez fan if he wasn't a boxer. While every body's talking Mayweather vs Pac I bet Marquez is thinking Pac vs Marquez. This isn't a easy fight for Floyd. If he does get pass Marquez I think he can beat Pac. Pac has never faced someone with Floyd's Defense and hand speed. He might make it boring but he will eventually out point Pac.

5-25-2009 @ 2:35PM

Sky's the limit! said...

How will Floyd outpoint Manny when the guy doesnt punch enough? Manny will punch his way through for12 rounds and theres only so much Floyd can do until his arms start to drop from a barage of punches round per round.

5-26-2009 @ 10:10AM

uwreckme2 said...

I don't know if people realize this but Floyd is one of the most accurate punchers in boxing history, he connects at an extremely high percentege. He also has superior defensive skills, making him a frustrating matchup for any fighter. Mayweather is back to remind us why he's the best and he won't dissapoint.

5-26-2009 @ 2:46PM

nomorewacknames said...

mayweather is a punk! yea hes a good fighter but how can he claim hes the best when he was ducking fighters like mosley,cotto,and margarito(b4 he disgraced himself)but instead he chose to "retire" and go out like a biatch now he wanna come back fight jmm which is no pushover but if he really wanted 2 prove something he couldve mosley or cotto or even go st8 to the top and fought manny only time will tell

5-28-2009 @ 7:30PM

Rich said...

I can't wait for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight. If Mayweather docks the fight, he will be considered a coward. Of course, he wants a bigger share of the money pie but I think Pacman should have a bigger share since he is the current Pound 4 Pound King of Boxing. One thing about Pacquiao is that he doesn't dodge fights, he faces it head on. His promoter picks his fights and whoever is the toughest match is the one he usually fights. I couldn't say the same for Mayweather. Another thing is that Pacman don't do all the dirty talk like Mayweather does, Pacman does his talking in the ring where it should be. Whatever happens, it will definitely be the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY if they both meet. Who will replace Muhammad Ali as the Best Boxer last century will be the Best of this new century.

5-31-2009 @ 11:04PM

furia001 said...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ''THE BEST POUND FOR POUND. IS FANTASY AND LIKE MIGUEL COTTO SAID,IS ONLY WRITTEN IN A BOXING MAGAZINE. THERE WAS A TIME THAT COTTO WAS CONSIDERED THE BEEST # FOR #. BUT AS A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID,HE FACED A BIGGER BOXER WITH ROCKS IN HIS GLOVES. YOU KNOW THE REST. MAYWEATHER CONSIDER HIMSELF THE BEST. BUT,HE NEVER WANT TO FIGHT VS MOSLEY,MIGUEL COTTO,PAUL WILLIAMS,AND WITH THE STIFF COMPETITION IN THE WELTER DIVISION,BEST # FOR # IS A PASSWORD.NOTHING ELSE. ABOUT MANNY PAQUIAO,HE WILL FIGHT ANY WELTER AS LONG AS THEY COME DOWN TO 140 LBS. NOW,WHAT IS SUCH A THING CALLED BEST POUND FOR POUND. SOUNDS LIKE ,CRY AND BABY FOOD.