Earlier this month, Graham Bensinger of Yahoo! Sports traveled to the Philippines for an in-depth discussion with 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Although the main purpose of the interview was to promote Pacquiao's upcoming November 22 showdown with undefeated jr. welterweight champion Chris Algieri, it didn't take long for the topic to change to a potential showdown with undefeated pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.
"I think it's more hurt for the fans of boxing - the fans that really want to see that fight. I've been waiting for that so many years - to make that fight happen. It's up to him. We're not closing our door. I'm not closing my door to fight with him. As long as I'm still in boxing and he's still in boxing, there is still a possibility for - to make the fight happen," Pacquiao commented when asked if the sport of boxing is hurt by the fight not taking place.
As the interview progressed, Bensinger continued to ask questions that seemed more like they were concocted by Pacquiao's publicist as opposed to anything he may have actually put some research into. "Why do you think it hasn't happened," Bensinger asked. "That question is not for me. It's for Floyd," Pacquiao replied. "Who would win," Bensinger would inquire, to which, Pacquiao replied, "I believe the right way will prevail."
It should be noted that Mr. Bensinger was completely inaccurate in stating, "June 2010, management for both sides agreed on terms. Everyone signed off on it, yet Floyd Mayweather never ended up signing the contract." On the contrary, in May and June of 2010, both Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer denied any further negotiations were taking place. Furthermore, up until that point, Pacquiao still had yet to agree to Mayweather's request for random blood and urine testing leading all the way up to the fight, instead insisting on first a 24-day cutoff and then a 14-day cutoff. In fact, as late as July of 2011, Pacquiao's advisor, Michael Koncz, confirmed that they still wanted a 14-day cutoff. Pacquiao did not fully commit to random blood and urine testing for his fights until his November 2013 bout with Brandon Rios, nearly a year after he was knocked out by ring rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
Anyway, if you're interested in what else Bensinger discussed with Pacquiao, CLICK HERE to watch the video.
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