Pacquiao: ‘I was more worried about De La Hoya and Cotto than Mayweather’

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Boxer Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, poses for photos as he arrives for a news conference, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Los Angeles. AP

MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao will face off with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the biggest fight in boxing history and once and for all settle the debate on who is the best of their era.

And the eight-division World Champion was more concerned in his previous fights against Oscar De La Hoya in 2008and Miguel Cotto in 2009 than his welterweight unification fight against Mayweather.

“I’m more worried about De La Hoya and Cotto than my fight with Floyd,” Pacquiao said on his Twitter account.

Pacquiao and Mayweather were under the same roof for the first time in a formal event on for a massive press conference on Thursday for their May 2 fight.

READ: Roach: We’re gonna kick Mayweather’s behind

During Pacquiao’s fight against De La Hoya in 2008, the Filipino was viewed as the underdog yet he punished De La Hoya so bad he forced boxing’s Golden Boy to retire.

His fight against Cotto was no different, he won his seventh title in seven divisions, a record in itself, and just pummeled the Puerto Rican so bad the referee finally stopped the fight in the 12th round.

Pacquiao added that Cotto and Antonio Margarito were really hard punchers and have the motor to go at it for long periods.

That was a simple jab on the defensive-minded Mayweather who takes less punches compared to the free-willing Cotto and Margarito.

“My footwork and hand combinations will be my advantage,” Pacquiao said. “I tell you Cotto and Margarito punch hard, this is boxing and it’s about punches.”

“I’m here to prove that I can easily beat the undefeated. Beating Floyd is good for boxing. When athletes have great success, their success goes to their head. That is bad for boxing.”