By Mark Vester
The disrespect that Floyd Mayweather Jr. consistently shows to current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is nothing new. Mayweather recently told his close friend and adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, that he would “beat Pacquiao’s ass” if the two fighters ever met in the ring. Mayweather is currently retired, but is fielding offers for a possible return against the winner of the May 2 bout between Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.
There is a popular belief in the sport that Mayweather has an issue with Pacquiao because so many people like the crowd pleasing style of the Filipino fighter - and those same people criticize Mayweather’s safety first ring approach that leads to lopsided decision wins with very little drama involved.
When Mayweather spoke to BoxingScene.com’s Brent Matteo Alderson last year, he was asked about a possible fight with Pacquiao, and Floyd became irritated that Pacquiao’s name was even mentioned. He said Pacquiao was not on his level, and viewed a potential fight as an easy win.
"You can't tell me nothing about Pacquiao. Pacquiao knocked a guy down three times in the first round and got a draw [Juan Manuel Marquez], so he really lost that fight. And then he got his ass whooped by [Erik] Morales," Mayweather told BoxingScene.
"Of course everybody knows I'll box circles around Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a good fighter. He goes in there and do what he gotta do. These fighters are not even on my level. That's why when I come to the fights they scream my name, Pretty Boy, because they know I'm the top dog."
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