Pacquiao not leaving Arum for Mayweather bout

Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum. File Photo

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Goodbye megabout?

World boxing eight-division champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao said he won’t leave Top Rank Promotions just to seal a highly anticipated bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“Floyd Mayweather Jr. never runs out of excuses just to avoid fighting me. If I leave Top Rank, there’s no guarantee the fight would push through,” Pacquiao said in an interview with the Inquirer.

“So, why should I leave Top Rank? Just to make Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen? No way.”

Pacquiao also called out Mayweather, telling the undefeated American a fight can be made even if the Filipino remains with Top Rank.

“The promotional company where I am in should not be made an issue. If this is the fight the world boxing fans want, let’s do it regardless of which promotional outfit we belong. There should be no lame excuses,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao bared that when Mayweather called him up a few years back, the latter asked him to leave Top Rank and join in his own promotional firm, The Mayweather Promotions.

“I told him I’m staying with Top Rank. I’m not interested to join his promotional outfit,” Pacquiao said.

The Filipino ring icon also advised Mayweather to stop insulting him or other boxers.

“When Floyd Mayweather was jailed for domestic violence, I prayed for him. Did you ever hear me say anything bad against him? I did not insult him while he was down and inside the prison cell. Instead, I prayed to God to change his heart,” Pacquiao bared.

On the other hand, Mayweather, Pacquiao said, would not stop making insults about his loss to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Floyd Mayweather keeps on insulting me for that knockout. We are not perfect. We all commit mistakes. I made a big mistake during my last fight with Marquez,” Pacquiao said.

“It was both a humbling and learning experience, Pacquiao said of the loss to Marquez. “It has even made me a better and stronger person.”