At 46 years of age and with a new fight on the horizon against Mario Barrios on July 19, the legendary Manny Pacquiao is still making headlines. Far from the tranquility that many would expect from a figure of his status, “Pac-Man” has once again ignited the flame of controversy with a recent interview for Covers.com, in which he not only praises Jake Paul, but also launches a frontal challenge to his old nemesis, Floyd Mayweather, accusing him of cowardice.
Pacquiao, one of the most revered figures in boxing history, proves that his fighting spirit remains intact, although sometimes his statements sound like a mixture of a comeback attempt and a midlife outburst. His ability to generate conversation and keep the focus on himself is undoubtedly as potent as his legendary left hand.
Without beating around the bush and straight from the first line of the interview, Pacquiao reignited what was the biggest and for many, most disappointing rivalry in modern boxing. His message to “Money” Mayweather was clear and provocative: “I don’t think Floyd Mayweather will fight me again, he’s scared to death to fight again, that’s what I think,” he said.
A rematch that never came, for now
Pacquiao’s statement comes a decade after his first and only encounter against Mayweather, considered at the time as “the fight of the century”, but which ended up being an overrated fight for many. Despite the time that has passed and Mayweather’s clear victory in 2015, Pacquiao insists on a rematch, suggesting that Floyd’s evasion is due to genuine fear.
“It’s a huge fight (between Mayweather and me) but there are many reasons or alibis why he didn’t do it. Many excuses, I guess,” Pacquiao added.
Respect for Jake Paul
In an unexpected twist, boxing Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao also dedicated words of respect to Jake Paul, the influencer who has successfully ventured into professional boxing. His comments have generated surprise and some controversy within the boxing community.
“I respect Jake Paul’s passion to pursue his career in boxing, he has talent. He can fight, so why not give him a world ranking?” Pacquiao said.
This statement has been seen by some critics as an insult to traditional boxers who struggle to make their way up the world rankings. The mention of Pacquiao, however, underlines Paul’s growing impact on the sport.
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