Pacquiao, who is facing Timothy Bradley in a trilogy on April 9, has stated on several post-Mayweather fight interviews that he failed to give the fans the fight they have been expecting when he faced Mayweather last May at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Despite his loss, Pacquiao said he gave his best under the circumstances, citing his shoulder injury which prevented him from mounting a sustained attack in the later rounds.
Now that he has fully recovered from his recent surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff, Pacquiao stated that aside from his desire to give entertaining fights to his fans, he also wish to end his career “with a big bang.”
“I have been very vocal about it (fighting Mayweather) even before the Bradley fight was made official on New Year’s eve,” Pacquiao told veteran writer and Philboxing contributor Eddie Alinea. “The reason is simple, I want to end my 21-year boxing career with a big bang so to speak.”
“And what would be the biggest fight to end a career than fighting the best and finest boxer at least in this era?” Pacquiao asked.
Pacquiao reiterated that he and Mayweather were expected by the millions of fans who watched the fight to show a competitive and entertaining fight but obviously it did not happen.
“We could have given that last May when we faced each other but due to unavoidable circumstances, sports fans failed to get the results they wanted,” Pacquiao said.
Before confirming his third fight against Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao has admitted he has been goading Mayweather to reconsider his decision to retire and face him again in a rematch.
But Mayweather has remained tight-lipped on his thoughts about the rematch despite his initial statement that he would give Pacquiao a second chance.
Pacquiao, who is an incumbent congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani in Southern Philippines, has been busy with his political career following the filing of his certificate of candidacy for a senate seat in the upcoming May 9 national elections.
The fighting congressman has stated earlier that he will quit boxing if he wins in his senatorial bid but with his recent statement, it now appears that he would continue fighting even if he is elected senator in this year’s elections.
It that happens, Pacquiao will have the distinction of being referred to in boxing and addressed by Ring Announcer Michael Buffer as the “Fighting Senator from the Philippines.”
