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Op-Ed: Why Floyd Mayweather didn’t want to fight Manny Pacquiao

For over five years, Pacquiao has challenged Mayweather to fight him so the world will know who deserves to be called the pound-for-pound best in the world.

Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune claimed the public demanded the fight and Mayweather had no choice but to accept the challenge.

“Look, Floyd was pushed into this fight, he didn’t want it. The public demanded it because he can’t call himself the pound-for-pound best in the world and not fight Pacquiao,” Fortune said.

“I think Floyd realized it’d haunt him for the rest of his days if he didn’t. He’s worried and he’d be foolish not to be because he has a hell of a lot more to lose. [He’s undefeated] and, while Manny has been beaten by great fighters, he’s come back and beaten them, he’s proven himself. There’s no fear here for Manny but Floyd? Mate, he’s terrified,” Fortune added.

Fortune swears that Mayweather hasn’t faced anyone who has the speed and power of Pacquiao.

“For a man of 37, he is ridiculous,” Fortune said. “He is seriously strong. I was so surprised, I was away from the camp for a few years and I was warming him up and I forgot how hard he punches,” said Fortune, who fought Lennox Lewis in 1995.

Fortune was working with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym when he had a falling out with the seven-time trainer of the year over money matters. A few years later, they reconciled. Now Fortune is preparing Pacquiao for his chance to prove his worth against Mayweather in their “Fight of the Century” on May 2.

“Floyd will find he’s never been hit by someone with his speed and power. He’ll have never experienced anyone like Manny. Floyd is not a puncher. He’s fast but not as fast as Pacquiao. He used to be but he’s as sure as hell not now,” he said.

Fortune’s assessment of Mayweather’s reluctance to fight Pacquiao is shared by millions of fans who also claimed that Mayweather would rather face an average fighter to make sure that he remains unbeaten than to fight Pacquiao who poses a threat to his immaculate record.

For his part, Roach said Mayweather has not fought the best fighters in his division in order to be called the best.

“Mayweather is undefeated so you have to give him a little credit for that,” said Roach, “But he has picked and chosen his opponents and I don’t think he’s fought enough competition to be considered the best. You have to fight the best to be the best, I feel. He’s ducked a lot of guys,”

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