Pacquiao: Mayweather 'doesn't want to fight me'

 

Manny Pacquiao usually keeps his opinions close to the vest, and I didn't expect him to elaborate much on the idea of his next fight beyond his Nov. 14 welterweight title fight against champion Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

So, it was surprising at the close of a lengthy discussion with The Times and Associated Press on Thursday that Pacquiao opted to provide a thought-out response to the question of fighting unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a fight considered boxing's Super Bowl sometime next year.

"I don't think it'll happen," Pacquiao said. "I'm sure he doesn't want to fight me."

Why?

Pacquiao at first tried to maintain his good nature by flexing his left arm and cracking, "the power," minutes after he had discussed his upcoming role in a movie where he'll play a superhero.

But then Pacquiao's tone became more serious, and he interestingly took the time to point out his perspective on how he believes boxing fans view him -- boxing's top pound-for-pound fighter -- versus how he thinks they view the man he took that title from.

"With Floyd, boxing is like a business," Pacquiao said. "He doesn't care about the people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is over and he gets the money, it's good.

"I want the people to be happy. If I [was] in the audience, I'm going to watch the boxing because it's a good fight."

Mayweather's team will no doubt be watching how Pacquiao-Cotto fares in pay-per-view sales. Mayweather's September dismantling decision over Juan Manuel Marquez generated 1 million PPV buys, and his camp has made it clear that performance has put "Money" Mayweather in position to receive the majority of money should a Pacquiao fight occur.

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Trainer Freddie Roach checks the hands of Manny Pacquiao after a training session Thursday in Hollywood. Credit: Ted Aljibe  AFP / Getty Images