MANILA, Philippines - Eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao cited two reasons why he's itching to square off with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In a composite image of him and Mayweather posted in his Instagram account, the fighting congressman said that his son asked him to fight the undefeated American boxer before he retires.
He added that he didn't want his son to think he's a coward.
"2 reasons I want the Mayweather fight. 1. My oldest son Jimuel. He asked me before my career is over to fight Floyd first. I don't want my son to think of me as a coward," the caption read.
Pacquiao also believes that the boxing world deserves the match.
"The Fans. It is what everyone wants. I am going to do everything in my power to make the fight happen. God Bless!!"
Mayweather finally accepted the challenge and expressed his desire to fight Pacquiao on May 2 next year.
“[I] Absolutely [want the fight]. I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. We tried to make the fight happen years ago. We had problems with random blood and urine testing. Like I said, I just want an even playing field,” he told the Showtime interviewer in a video released last Saturday.
"“Floyd Mayweather isn't ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum is stopping the fight. We've been trying to make this fight happen behind the scenes for years now but the fans and the people have been fooled because they have been listening to one side,” he added.