For former pound-for-pound title holder Floyd Mayweather Jr., today’s boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is merely a “good fighter”.

This is despite the Filipino boxer’s dominant performance over Mayweather’s erstwhile foe Oscar de la Hoya.

“We all know, if you did your homework, that Manny Pacquiao is a ‘good fighter’,” Mayweather Jr. told Gabriel Morency of US radio program Sports Rage.

The former pound-for-pound king hammered out a split decision over de la Hoya in May 2007. He also won by knock out over British boxer Ricky Hatton later that year before eventually going into retirement.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, soundly defeated de la Hoya by technical knockout in December 2008. He is set to face Hatton on May 2.
  
When asked about Pacquiao’s current status as the reigning pound-for-pound king, he said: “Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao if that’s what they feel. [But] I take that away from Manny Pacquiao.”

Mayweather Jr., who is also known for his trash talk, said he doubted the Filipino southpaw's ring prowess because of his blemished win-loss record. 
 
“He’s been knocked down in the first round before and like three or four years ago, he’s the guy that’s outboxed by a washed out Erik Morales,” said the former P4P king. “So I ask you a question right there.”

He also belittled Pacquiao’s success over Mexican toughie Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Manny Pacquiao fought with one of the Marquez brothers, right? One of the Marquez brothers knocked him down three times in the first round and still got a draw so we know that he’s got outboxed in that fight, for real. And then he fought him again and won by one point,” Mayweather Jr. went on.

Curiously, Mayweather Jr. gave out his take on Pacquiao shortly after the Filipino signed the contract for the highly anticipated “superfight” with Hatton in Las Vegas.

It was earlier reported that Mayweather’s camp was exploring the possibility of arranging a fight with the Filipino superstar.

However, the former pound-for-pound king said he does not have plans to “un-retire” anytime soon.

“If God says it’s my time to come back [I’ll come back] but as of now, I’m not looking,” he said.

“Right now my main focus is my kids, and me outside of boxing, and making hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars… just being smart and being an entrepreneur,” added the retired boxer.

Even his view on the upcoming Pacquiao-Hatton fight looked like a dig against the Filipino.

“If Manny Pacquiao wins, I wouldn’t be surprised. The reason why is that I took everything out of Ricky Hatton,” said Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao flew to General Santos City early Monday to start training for his fight with Hatton.