MANILA, Philippines - No less than Harry Reid, the US Senate minority leader, wished that Manny Pacquiao can make the fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. happen.
“Let’s make it happen,” said the 75-year-old senator who welcomed the Filipino boxing superstar and congressman to his office at Capitol Hill.
It’s not the first time that Reid, a Democrat, met Pacquiao in person. In 2011, the eight-division boxing champion also visited the former in Washington DC.
Pacquiao is in Washington to attend the National Prayer Breakfast which was also graced by other leaders from over a hundred countries.
“I’m ready to meet the VIP people from different countries to build relationship and share the faith from the Lord Jesus Christ our savior,” said Pacquiao on Instagram.
He did not waste his time seeing Reid and his fellow congressmen.
Rep. Janice Hahn of California had a picture taken with Pacquiao, sticking her right fist close to Pacquiao’s cheek.
The Washington Post caught the photo-op.
Reid went to Twitter, posting a picture of him with Pacquiao, saying he shared with the boxer his experience of a gym-related injury.
“He (Pacquiao) also told me he’s ready to fight Floyd Mayweather,” said Reid on his Twitter account.
Pacquiao and wife Jinkee are on a whirlwind tour that brought them to London where they met Prince Harry and Miami where he judged the Miss Universe contest.
As Pacquiao arrived in Washington last Tuesday, he faced questions about his highly-anticipated fight with Mayweather.
“No comment,” he told reporters at the airport.
Despite a rare meeting between Mayweather and Pacquiao in Miami, everything is still up in the air concerning their fight.
Mayweather said he will fight on May 2 in Las Vegas, and whether it’s against Pacquiao is anybody’s guess.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said they’re working on it but is just waiting for Mayweather’s decision.
If Mayweather chooses to fight someone else, like Miguel Cotto or Amir Khan, then Pacquiao will shop around for an opponent for May 30 or sometime in June.