Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr barely missed a beat as he accused old rival Manny Pacquiao of continuing to box because he is broke following his eight-round exhibition bout against YouTuber Logan Paul.
The 42-year-old Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39) proved he still has plenty left in the tank when he dethroned previously undefeated WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman 29-1 (22) in Las Vegas two years ago.
The Filipino superstar hasn’t fought since, in part because of his role as a senator in his native Philippines and because of the difficulties in securing fights during the global coronavirus pandemic.
At the end of last month it was announced that Pacquiao would face WBC and IBF 147-pound champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 27-0 (21) in Las Vegas on August 21.
If successful in the all-southpaw battle, it will put 23 years between Pacquiao’s first world championship at flyweight and his current reign.
The 44-year-old Mayweather retired four years ago with a record of 50-0 (27) after stopping boxing debutant Conor McGregor 0-1 in the 10th round. That bout took place two years after his last real boxing assignment against Andre Berto 32-5 (24).
Mayweather has boxed two exhibition bouts since hanging up the gloves. On New Year’s Eve 2018 he faced Japanese featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo. Last Sunday he faced cruiserweight Paul 0-2 in Miami.
“The people wanted a show,” Mayweather said after cruising through a slow-paced eight rounds.
“I could have [got him out of there]. I could have pressed real, real hard and started throwing these crazy combinations, but it was fun… his whole goal wasn’t to come out here and knock me out. His whole goal was to survive. And that was a win for him.
“When I come and do an exhibition or come out and box to have some fun, I do it because I want to do it, not because I have to do it. Whereas Pacquiao at his age, which is sad, he has to fight. I’m financially set. And I wanna let everybody know this. You’re gonna hear stories, ‘Floyd has to do this.’ No. I’m well off.”
Mayweather looked decidedly slower than he was when he was boxing professionally, but he was quick to remind viewers that he is no spring chicken.
“You gotta realise, I’m not 21 anymore,” he said. “But it’s good, to move around with these young guys, test my skills, just to have some fun.
“Great young fighter, strong, tough, he’s better than I thought he was. He’s a tough, rough competitor. I was surprised by him tonight. Oh yes, I had fun.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but I’ll talk it over with my team and see where we go from here.
“I’ve been in this sport 25 years, I understand I’m not 21, but I had fun tonight.”
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Paul was simply happy to escape the fight without getting knocked out – despite advantages of four inches in height and almost 35-pounds in weight.
“The fact that I’m in here, with one of the greatest boxers of all time, proves that the odds can be beaten,” Paul said.
“I’m the maverick… I’m the unorthodox one, I’m the independent one and everyone has it in them. Shit man, I don’t want anyone to tell me anything is impossible ever again.
“The fact that I’m in here with one of the greatest boxers of all time… this is one of the greatest moments of my life.
“It’s an honour to grace the ring with him. This is the coolest thing ever. He’s tough to hit!”
