‘Mayweather thinks he can beat Pacquiao’
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 12/22/2008 1:21 AM
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After seeing the Dream Match fight between Manny Pacquiao and boxing great Oscar de la Hoya, former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinks he can beat the Filipino champ.
Mayweather Jr.’s best friend and adviser Leonard Ellerbe told ESPN.com that the former WBC welterweight champion saw the Pacquiao-de la Hoya match and said the Filipino is "an excellent fighter.
"It (Dream Match) was a tremendous win [for Pacquiao]. Floyd said, 'He's a good fighter, but I'll beat his [expletive]," Ellerbe quoted Mayweather as saying.
Mayweather Jr. himself fought the Golden Boy in May 2007. But unlike Pacquiao, he only managed to eke a split decision over de la Hoya.
Ellerbe, meanwhile, said Mayweather Jr. has already given his team a green light to evaluate the biggest fight for him.
"Floyd has given Team Mayweather the green light to go out there and evaluate the biggest fights for him, to come back to him and present it to him. Then he will consider it," said Ellerbe.
The 31-year-old Mayweather Jr. has not fought since a 10th-round knock out win over Ricky Hatton in December 2007.
Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach earlier said he thinks Mayweather Jr. is beatable.
Roach admitted that the former pound-for-pound king does have slick moves inside the ring but he believes Pacquiao still has the edge.
“I know he's fast, also. But I think we go the upper hand on speed and I think we're a more powerful puncher,” said the celebrated boxing trainer.
When asked about Pacquiao’s chances against Mayweather Jr., Roach made a comparison between both fighter’s matches against de la Hoya.
“He struggled to beat Oscar and we dominated Oscar So I think we'll be favored going into the fight and I look forward to it,” said Roach.
