MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is not going to jump ship just to make the fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. happen.
Pacquiao has no plans of cutting his ties with Top Rank and Bob Arum even if Mayweather said it’s the only way to go.
It seems that leaving Top Rank is not even an option for the Filipino superstar.
Pacquiao told the Los Angeles Times yesterday that Mayweather will only fight him if the American pound-for-pound champion wants to.
There’s nobody standing in between..
“It’s not about the promoter,†said Pacquiao, now close to wrapping up his training for an April 12 rematch with Tim Bradley at the MGM.
Mayweather, a former Arum boy, had said that the only way for him to fight Pacquiao is if and when the latter is no longer associated with Top Rank.
Mayweather and Arum had a bitter parting of ways in 2007, and the American said he’ll never do business with the legendary promoter ever again. He went to the extent of saying that he will fight Pacquiao if Pacquiao joins Mayweather Promotions.
Perhaps Pacquiao feels that even if he leaves Top Tank, Mayweather may not fight him at all.
“The truth is, he doesn’t have interest in fighting me,†Pacquiao told Lance Pugmire of the LA Times at the Wild Card Gym.
“For me, if he wants to fight, the fight will be on. The ultimate answer is from him. I’m just waiting to see if he’ll change his mind,†he added.
Pacquiao’s contract with Top Rank will expire by the end of the year, and there are no signs that he’s cutting his ties with Top Rank.
“Right now, I don’t have issues,†Pacquiao said.
“I’m the kind of person that doesn’t look to make changes. Look at me, since I’ve fought in America, I’ve only had one trainer [Freddie Roach]. I never change. We have a good relationship with Top Rank, with Bob,†he added.
Pacquiao is happy where he is right now.