INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - He'd seen the best, fought the best and is one of the best big boxers ever in history.

Evander Holyfield certainly can separate a genuine talent from pretenders. And for the only four-time heavyweight champion of the world, Manny Pacquiao is the main man now, supplanting Floyd Mayweather Jr.

?Well, until you beat the guy, Pacquiao?s the best and that?s the thing, Floyd hasn?t done that yet,? Holyfield told Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com on Wednesday.

?When Floyd left, he (Pacquiao) became the best because Floyd left, but now that Floyd is back, I guess they have to get it on to see who is the best.?

Thing is, Pacquiao-Mayweather appears to be far-fetched for the year.

Pacquiao is being lined up by Top Rank chief honcho Bob Arum against World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in October while Mayweather is postponing his comeback fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in July due to damaged cartilage in his ribs.

The 46-year-old Holyfield also feels that Mayweather isn?t ready to do battle with Pacquiao immediately.

?I don?t think that would have been smart,? said Holyfield. ?That guy (Pacquiao) is good. I think he?ll give Floyd trouble. He?s got fast hands too, he?s left-handed and he?s got a lot more speed than pretty much all the guys Floyd has fought.?