Mayweather Proclaims Superiority over Pacquiao

By Ryan Songalia

In recent months, there has been great speculation as to who was the rightful claimant to the mythical pound for pound throne at the summit of the boxing world. Following Roy Jones' finalizing knockout losses and Bernard Hopkins' two defeats to Jermain Taylor, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was tabbed as the man who without bias of weight and size, was the best fighter in the world.

That was until Manny Pacquiao stepped up his game in 2006 with a pair of violent knockout victories over the great Erik Morales and a viable schooling of world class Oscar "Chololo" Larios. Pacquiao's considerably more dynamic performances in light of the relative humdrum of Mayweather's contests have raised considerable speculation as to who really was

in the sport.

At the initial press conference in New York City for his May 5 clash with Oscar De La Hoya, I presented Mayweather with questions regarding his feelings on Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather, 37-0 (27 KO), stated his thesis and reasoning behind his perceived dominance in the sport.

"When he got beat by Morales, I was world champion. When he had that draw, when he knocked [Marquez] down three times in the first round and still got a draw, which means he really took an L, I still was world champion. Before he became champion, I was champion. When he won the belt, I was champion. When he lost the belt, I was champion. When he won it again, I was champion."

Despite his assertions of superiority, Mayweather praises Pacquiao for his tenacity and accomplishments in the ring.

"I love Manny Pacquiao. I love going to watch his fights. I think he's a hell of a fighter. He's an extraordinary fighter."

"Just because you win a couple of fights against Morales, a guy that's been in toe-to-toe battles for over ten years... Boxing puts wear and tear on your body, if it wasn't going to happen with Manny Pacquiao, it was going to happen with somebody else."

"Why are you guys so big on Manny Pacquiao beating Morales when he just got spanked by Zahir Raheem?", Mayweather posed rhetorically in conclusion.