'Floyd will be easier'

HOLLYWOOD – He had little trouble fighting Joshua Clottey, and Manny Pacquiao is confident he’ll have an even easier time against Floyd Mayweather Jr. “His (Mayweather) style is not as difficult as Clottey’s. It’s easy to study,” said Pacquiao after going 12 rounds and disposing of his Ghanaian challenger last Saturday before nearly 51,000 fans at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas. Pacquiao won by unanimous decision, taking all 12 rounds with one judge and yielding only the third round with the two others, to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt. He was in control from start to finish, and was never in trouble despite taking some hits. He said he took them almost voluntarily. “Kaya eh (I can take it),” said Pacquiao after disembarking from the chartered Boeing 737-800 that took him, his wife Jinkee, his family, team members and friends – more than 150 of them – from Dallas to Los Angeles. Pacquiao, in an overcoat, white fedora and Ferragamo shades, marched down the aisle of the “Air Pacquiao” jumbo jet to be with his passengers. Then he spent the rest of the flight playing cards with friends. He said he tried to break Clottey’s defense and go for a knockout. But the challenger was so stubborn he let Pacquiao hit him on the body instead. “Ayaw sumuntok eh, kaya nagpapasuntok na din ako, para bumukas (He wouldn’t throw punches so I let him hit me so he’d open up),” Pacquiao said. The pound-for-pound king said it could be the same thing all over again if and when he gets a chance to face Mayweather, also known for his defense, and his tendency to settle for a decision than risk going for a knockout. “But Mayweather must do his business first,” said Pacquiao of the flamboyant American, who challenges WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley for the title on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “Floyd, come to the ring and fight us,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. Pacquiao said he’s ready to face Mayweather anytime, anywhere as long as it’s the boxing commission, and not the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion, that will dictate the drug testing rules. In the meantime, Pacquiao wants to have a good time after keeping his WBO welterweight crown. After arriving from Dallas, he boarded his two-seater Mercedes with Jinkee and headed to their $2-million home at Larchmont Park. All seems to be well with the First Couple of pro boxing. They plan to spend a couple more days here in LA before flying to Hawaii for the boxer’s concert on Sunday. Details of the trip back to Manila will be determined after the concert. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=558456&publicationSubCategoryId=63