Boxing: ‘Let’s have the Mayweather fight’

LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao’s struggle to a controversial victory over Juan Manuel Marquez could nudge the Filipino boxing icon closer to a mega-fight showdown against unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao stretched his winning streak to 15 fights with a majority decision over Marquez but lacked the overpowering form he had shown in seven fights since a previous controversial triumph over Marquez in 2008. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said he felt Marquez deserved a rematch before the Asian southpaw faced Mayweather. While Pacquiao was open to a rematch, he made it clear he was also ready to face Mayweather, saying when asked about the prospect: “Let’s get it on. Let’s make the fight happen.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th,  2011.