Rating his performance against Algieri last Sunday a 7, Pacquiao says he would need a 9… Maybe even a 10 just to be sure, he adds
HONG KONG – Manny Pacquiao gave himself a decent rating in outclassing Chris Algieri in Macau but admitted that won’t be enough if Floyd Mayweather is on the opposite corner.
If I rate myself it has to be a seven (out of ten),” Pacquiao told Manila-based scribes who dropped by his lavish suite at The Venetian just before the Filipino hero flew back Monday afternoon to the Philippines.
Despite sustaining a nick under his left eye, courtesy of Algieri’s sneaky right straight, Pacquiao looked fine as he dissected his masterful showing and cautioned that he has to be at his best if a Mayweather match finally materializes.
“But a seven won’t be enough (against Mayweather),” said Pacquiao.
“You have to be a nine, or to be sure a ten (to beat him).”
Pacquiao said he knows what Mayweather has in his arsenal and that the key to getting himself into phenomenal shape will be the addition of more plyometric exercises.
During the post-fight press conference Sunday at The Venetian, Pacquiao expressed the burning desire to get his hands on Mayweather, a fight that would definitely lead to riches unheard of in any other sport.
“This is the fight that everybody wants,” said Pacquiao, who turns 36 on Dec. 17 and hasn’t shown any sign of slowing down.
Pacquiao has been asked on and on not only by the media but by casual fans wherever he goes and the eight-division world titleholder is fed up with all the questions and simply wants to put the case to rest.
In the event the fight happens, Pacquiao said it won’t be just a one-fight deal since both fighters would heavily insist on a rematch clause to protect their own interests.
“For sure, there’ll be a second or even a third fight,” he said noting that it will probably be fought at no lower than 147 lbs.
As to where the fight could take place, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said an ideal venue would be the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium (formerly known as Cowboys Stadium) in Arlington, Texas.
Las Vegas doesn’t have a massive arena that could accommodate fight fans but Sin City remains a major player in the negotiating table as evidenced by its hosting of many of the world’s greatest and richest fights.