"I’m really challenging him" said Pacquiao last night.
The Filipino boxing icon must have had enough of Mayweather saying Pacquiao is desperate to fight him because of his tax problems.
Mayweather was quoted as saying that Pacquiao “wants me to solve his problems for him.”
Pacquiao is facing tax woes from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) in the United States and the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) in the Philippines.
But the 35-year-old congressman from Sarangani said he’s “going through the process” of settling all his obligations
“Floyd says I’m after the money,” said Pacquiao, who’s coming off an impressive win over Brandon Rios last November.
Before that, he lost two in a row against Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, raising questions on whether it was time for him to retire.
But he came back strong against Rios, and shortly after the win, the twin tax issues cropped up.
Pacquiao reiterated his latest challenge to Mayweather.
“We fight and nobody gets any money,” said Pacquiao. “Floyd, if you’re a real man, fight me. Let’s do it for the love of boxing and for the fans. Let’s do it not for the sake of money. Let’s make the boxing fans happy.”
Pacquiao’s business manager, Eric Pineda, last night said it’s now up to Mayweather to take the challenge or not.
“The ball is in his hands now. Manny is willing to fight him for charity. And Manny is serious,” said Pineda.
Pacquiao is scheduled to return to the ring on April 12 in Las Vegas but has yet to name his opponent. He is choosing between Tim Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov.
Unconfirmed reports said a couple more names are in the mix, including Robert Guerrero, but Top Rank chief Bob Arum told The STAR the Mexican-American is not in the list.
Mayweather is also scheduled to plunge back into action in May 3, but like Pacquiao he hasn’t named his opponent.
Mayweather makes twice as much as Pacquiao when he fights, and a couple of days ago the undefeated American said he will retire in September 2015.
Whoever he fights next, Pacquiao can make around $20 million, meaning he can’t be that desperate. And if he wins his next fight, he can do a couple more fights and earn as much or even more.
Even without fighting Mayweather.
Now Pacquiao, who must have donated millions to charity, is willing to fight Mayweather – for free.
He’s turning the Fight of the Century into the Fight for Charity.
“The public clamor for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is getting stronger. The only way he can avoid facing me in the ring is to retire from boxing,” Pacquiao said.
Both fighters need to stop the posturing and get down to business. Make the superfight everyone is still waiting for and stop playing chicken.
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