http://www.malaya.com.ph/july01/sports2.html
Pacquiao ready for Mayweather
BY EDDIE G. ALINEA
IF Floyd Mayweather Jr. really wants to fight Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing hero is more than ready to oblige.
Last Tuesday, Mayweather, in the second and last day of a media tour in New York to promote his September 17 fight with southpaw Victor Ortiz, hinted he may fight the Filipino star next, saying: "If I’m able to negotiate a Pacquiao fight, it could happen."
In an interview last night, Pacquiao said: "Nakahanda na ako, matagal na. Kilala na ako ng lahat ng tao, laban lang kahit kaninong mapili ng promoter ko."
Boxing buffs around the world are convinced Mayweather chose to face Ortiz in his comeback fight because, like Pacquiao, Ortiz is a southpaw.
Even Pacquiao agreed, saying: "The fact that Mayweather chose Ortiz as his opponent in his comeback trail only means one thing: He’s preparing for me because like me, Ortiz is a southpaw. Kaliwete si Ortiz at kaliwete ako. Hindi naman tayo bobo para hindi mag-isip na pinaghahandaan niya ako,."
The Mayweather-Ortiz fight will be held in Las Vegas, with the American staking his undefeated record (41-0) against the reigning World Boxing Council welterweight champion who has a 29-2-2 record.
"My ultimate goal is to take the title from Victor Ortiz. Next, we move on to Manny Pacquiao, then we move on to the next," Mayweather said as the crowd cheered.
"He stressed he "only wanted to fight the biggest and the best out there" and followed that up with the words: "Manny Pacquiao, yes, you’re’ next."
Mayweather, however, clarified his much-awaited battle with Pacquiao would only happen if the Filipino agrees to an Olympic-style drug test. Negotiations for earlier fights between the two fell apart due to drug-testing protocol.
"Hopefully Manny Pacquiao steps up to the plate and takes the test so we can fight," Mayweather said. "I’m waiting for the fight to happen. I’m taking one step at a time."
Before his fight with Pacquiao could happen, however, Mayweather has to deal with legal problems, including charges from an incident with an ex-girlfriend that could bring up to 34 years in prison, plus a defamation suit filed by Pacquiao.
Mayweather and his camp had claimed before that Pacquiao had been taking performance enhancing drugs, a claim the Filipino star said damaged his reputation. The American wants blood tests close to the date of a fight, a requirement that Pacquiao had steadfastly refused. The blood tests are not required by an US boxing oversight body.
LMFAO.... "Manny Pacquiao, yes you're next"