By Mark Vester
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao arrived back home to Manila, Philippines on Thursday [Friday in Manila], receiving a hero's welcome from thousands of fans who lined the streets to celebrate last Saturday's victory over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Ad few days ago, Floyd Mayweather Jr. baited Pacquiao by telling the Filipino icon - "If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself."
Pacquiao fired back, telling Mayweather that he should be one to step up to the plate. Mayweather sees himself as the bigger draw and bigger star, and Pacquiao sees himself in the same light. Pacquiao told reporters that he will not chase Mayweather to force a fight. Mayweather should be calling him out, says Pacquiao.
“I am willing to fight Mayweather as long as there’s an agreement,” Pacquiao said. “But we don’t want to force him to fight me. He should be the one to challenge me because it was clear I had more pay-per-view than him.”
Pacquiao has a tentative return date of March 13. If a deal with Mayweather is made, the March return could get bumped to May. Pacquiao plans to take some time off to relax and heal an ear injury suffered in the win over Cotto
“I want to relax and my ear injury to heal,” Pacquiao said.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com
