Ali denies picking Pacquiao over Mayweather--report | Inquirer Sports

Ali denies picking Pacquiao over Mayweather–report

By: - Reporter / @BLozadaINQ
/ 03:27 PM April 03, 2015

Muhammad Ali. AFP FILE PHOTO

Muhammad Ali. AFP FILE PHOTO

Boxing’s all-time great Muhammad Ali is setting the record straight: he hasn’t picked Manny Pacquiao nor Floyd Mayweather Jr. to win in their upcoming megabout.

What he did was wish the two fighters good luck who will face each other on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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In a report from ESPN.com, Ali family spokesman Bob Gunnell clarified that Ali is, so far, rooting on neutral grounds.

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“It was reported that Muhammad Ali picked a favorite in the upcoming Mayweather-Pacquiao fight on May 2. Muhammad Ali would like to wish both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao well in their upcoming fight,” Ali family spokesman Gunnell said in a statement sent to ESPN.com.

TMZ previously reported that Ali’s daughter Rasheda saying “my Dad is Team Pacquiao all the way!”

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Media outlets, including INQUIRER.net, picked up the quote directly from the mouth of one of the greatest heavyweights, not his daughter, who claimed was misquoted.

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READ: Muhammad Ali is ‘Team Pacquiao all the way’

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“Muhammad never offered to anyone his prediction, and information that was published earlier this week and picked up by other media is either a misquote or someone else’s personal opinion. The stories saying that Muhammad Ali has chosen a favorite in the fight are false,” Gunnell said.

On Wednesday (Manila time), Ali took to Twitter wishing Money and Pacman the best of luck in their welterweight unification fight.

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He added the hashtag #Alitweet which meant that Ali himself said the quote.

“Looking forward to Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao & wishing both the best of luck. Rumble, young men, rumble!” Ali wrote on Twitter.

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For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.

TAGS: Boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Muhammad Ali, Pacquiao Files, Sports

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