Manny Pacquiao is certainly trying his hardest to goad Floyd Mayweather Jr. into the ring. He apparently wants to fight "Money" so much he's willing to forgo actual payment. Recently Pacquiao floated the challenge to Mayweather to take him on in a bout with all proceeds going to charity.
Most fans and pundits laughed off the comments, but Pacquiao is insisting he was serious. "I spoke to Manny tonight and he said 'with both of us being wealthy, it's our turn to pay back the people and to give to the less fortunate.' That's a quote from Manny. This is a statement that Manny has made that's sincere," said Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz.
"The fight would mean history, and Manny wants the fight with Floyd, and if that's what the fans want, then that's No. 1. No. 2, I don't believe that its ever been done before where the entire purse has been given away to charity in a fight of this magnitude. Manny is dead serious about that, and he's willing to do it."
While they await an answer from Floyd that may not come, and if so will likely be some form of no, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is trying to piece together a deal for Pacquiao to re-enter the ring against Timothy Bradley, who beat him controversially in 2012. Mayweather may be the consensus top pound-for-pound fighter in the world these days, but Bradley's the No. 3.
A convincing win over "Desert Storm" could work on two fronts for Pacquiao. First, he'd re-establish himself as a legitimate claimant to Mayweather's throne, or at least a viable threat. Second, he'd become far more difficult for Mayweather to dismiss with such a dearth of quality opponents that can command proper paydays and generate interest.
As of now Amir Khan is believed to be Mayweather's next opponent, although he's been coy for months about his plans.
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