"Clottey, I know he's taller and bigger than me and, you know, you can't underestimate him because he's a world champion also...I believe I don't really need to fight Mayweather because what I have actually done in boxing right now, I think, is good enough for me," stated pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao as he spoke to the media during a conference call earlier today about his upcoming March 13th welterweight showdown with Joshua Clottey. Despite the fight being roughly two weeks away, it seemed all the focus, at least that of the media, was still on a potential clash between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Check out what else he had to say about Clottey, Mayweather and much more.
On training and Joshua Clottey...
Training camp is good. Yesterday we sparred 11 rounds...we're doing great. Clottey, I know he's taller and bigger than me and, you know, you can't underestimate him because he's a world champion also.
On Freddie Roach...
Freddie Roach is very important to me because he helped me a lot for my career when I started out fighting here in the States...Freddie Roach is a good trainer. That's all I can say.
On Bob Arum...
Bob, he helps me a lot, especially promoting the last four fights. Because of him, my career is going up. He helped me a lot. Bob and Freddie in my career is the most important.
On Floyd Mayweather...
Some fighters like me, we can be the greatest fighter without trash talk. His style is, you know, he's talking a lot of trash talk to be known as Mayweather like that, to be known as champion, but it's not a good example for everybody.
I believe I don't really need to fight Mayweather because what I have actually done in boxing right now, I think, is good enough for me.
What I believe is Floyd Mayweather is not ready for this time to face me. That's why he makes up some reason to control the fight. I feel bad, I feel disappointment, because he's accusing me of using drugs or whatever and he tries to ruin my name. People know that I always pray to God and do hard work.
Maybe he's afraid of me or maybe he's afraid for this fight.
I'm disappointed for what he's accusing me and I really feel bad, but I'm not angry to him because this is boxing and that's his style. We can not change that because we are different.
On the upcoming elections...
After the fight, I'm going back to the Philippines and start campaigning.
It's going to be busy.
The Philippine people still need help, especially the livelihood for the people there and good education for the children.
On retirement...
I'm not saying I'm going to retire. It's hard to say right now that I'm going to be retire, but this is the last fight before the election so I'm really excited about that.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Perhaps next time, our friends at Top Rank will give FightHype.com an opportunity to ask a more relevant question about the actual fight coming up as opposed to allowing the same old reporters ask the same irrelevant questions about Floyd Mayweather and the issues with blood testing over and over again.]
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