Pacquiao: I Can’t Force Mayweather Jr. to Fight Me

By Chris LaBate

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is still very interested in facing Floyd Mayweather Jr., who captured the WBC title with a fourth round knockout of Victor Ortiz in September. Pacquiao defends his belt against Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After defeating Ortiz, Mayweather told members of the media – “I don’t need Pacquiao. Every time I go out there I’m going to make $70 million. I don’t need Pacquiao. Pacquiao is famous because he is attached to my name. When they say Pacquiao, they say that’s the guy they are trying to get to fight Floyd Mayweather. When they say Floyd Mayweather – they say that’s an all-time great.”

Pacquiao, during a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, said he’d like to fight Mayweather, but he can’t force his rival’s hand to make a deal. Mayweather claims Pacquiao is not willing to agree to a pre-fight random drug testing protocol, which the Filipino boxer says he’s willing to accept. Pacquiao claims it’s Mayweather who doesn’t want to fight.

“Whoever I have to fight the rest of my career, I’m happy and satisfied with what I’ve done. I don’t need somebody else to be satisfied with what I’ve done. I don’t need to be looking for, or chasing, a fight. I want the fight, but I cannot force him to take it. He has to show he wants to fight me,” Pacquiao said.

http://www.boxingscene.com/pacquiao-i-t-force-mayweather-jr-fight-me–45266