‘Mayweather is my one specific goal’

MANILA, Philippines – After his fight with Chris Algieri less than two weeks from now, Manny Pacquiao will be setting his sights on Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He insists it will be Mayweather and no one else.

In an interview transcript released by boxingscene.com, the Filipino icon once again reiterated his desire to finalize what is still the most anticipated fight in the sport today.

“As I've said before, boxing is my passion and public service is my calling. As I approach my title defense against Chris Algieri, I have found that my passion has increased. I do not feel old. I feel great and I find I am able to train as hard as I always have and I enjoy it. More importantly, I still enjoy boxing – a lot,” Pacquiao said.

“As long as my skills and my passion remain strong, I want to continue my boxing career. When I retire, I want it to be on my terms. I do not want to spend my retirement regretting that I walked away from boxing before I was ready. I do not want to come back and fight after I retire.

My goals are to finish as a world champion, winning my remaining fights. Since the Marquez fight, I have approached every training camp and every opponent with 110 percent dedication. I would like to keep challenging myself in the opponents I will face in the future,” he continued.

After previously hinting at retiring two years from now, Pacquiao this time is non-committal on setting a specific date for hanging up his gloves. His duel with Algieri on November 23 in Macau will be his 64th fight in a storied professional career spanning almost two decades.

But the fighting congressman said he’s not done yet.

“I have not set a date or determined an age when I will retire. As long as I can keep fighting at the level I expect from myself, I will continue my boxing career,” Pacquiao explained.

That’s when Mayweather’s name came up again.

“I do have one specific goal and that is to give the boxing fans the fight they have always asked for [against Mayweather]. I want that fight too. I believe good negotiations could produce the fight,” Pacquiao said.

For several times, both fighters tried to arrange the megabout, but failed to find common ground. The camps have repeatedly blamed each other for the failed negotiations, but Pacquiao stresses it’s not his fault.

“But it is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table. Two fighters who want to fight each other have never been kept from fighting each other,” he ended. – Dino Maragay