Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on top of the ring in boxing’s richest fight ever in May last year, where the pugilist-politician from the Philippines, lost via a unanimous decision.
While his initial statement back then was that he felt that he won the fight because all he thought Floyd Jr. did was to run and duck, it eventually dawned upon him that it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. had one more fight last year before deciding to hang up his gloves for good. For his part, Pacquiao got into the ring with American Timothy Bradley in April this year for their third fight and unanimously defeated his opponent.
He retired from the sport shortly, saying that he wanted to focus on his candidacy as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. He won during the May elections by landing seventh among the top 12 needed to complete the Senate for the 16th Session of Philippine Congress.
Early last month, the eight-division world champion and upcoming boxing Hall of Famer announced that he will come out of retirement and fight American Jessie Vargas at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 5. Pacquiao has since begun training for the fight while keeping his presence in the Philippine Senate intact.
He shall reportedly be leaving the Philippines when the Senate takes a brief recess late in October to complete his training for Jessie Vargas on the way to fight night. He will then return to the Philippines after November 5 to once again fulfill his duty as Senator.
Weighing in on the hypothetical Mayweather and McGregor fight
Incidentally, Manny Pacquiao recently spoke about the hypothetical fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC champion Conor McGregor.
Pacquaio said that if the fight would put restrictions on what McGregor could do in the ring and limit the fight to just boxing, Mayweather would pick apart the UFC champion because Money has already mastered the sport, which is the reason why he is sporting an immaculate 49-0 win-loss card, cites the Bleacher Report.
However, he said that if Mayweather would step into the ring with McGregor in the world of mixed martial arts, the UFC champion would demolish the undefeated boxer because he can apply more weapons against him including elbows, knees, and also take the match into grappling or wrestling.
It was actually Mayweather who floated the idea of a fight between him and McGregor when he posted a fake fight poster in May featuring McGregor and himself.
But the hypothetical match is almost impossible to happen because McGregor is under contract with UFC, who will not be ready to let its biggest draw to come to boxing that would not even benefit Dana White and company.
Critics also believe that it would have been a great fight if it happens because just like Mayweather, McGregor also loves the spotlight. But there are just too many obstacles to make the fight happen.
Pacquaio’s five favorite fights
Manny Pacquiao was recently interviewed and asked what are his five favorite fights in his illustrious boxing career.
Without batting an eyelash, Pacquiao cited his fight with Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya back in 2008 as his most favorite, followed by his knockout victory over Ricky Hatton in 2009. Third on his list is the demolition of Miguel Cotto also in 2009, and then the win over the taller and bigger Antonio Margarito in 2010 at fourth. He mentioned that his fifth favorite fight is his victory over Marco Antonio Barrera back in 2003, details the Los Angeles Times.
Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas will slug it out on November 5 for the WBO welterweight title currently being held by the latter.