BEVERLY HILLS (California): Even when Manny Pacquiao and Timothy
Bradley Jr posed for photos to promote their June 9 welterweight bout,
Floyd Mayweather Jr's absence loomed over proceedings.
'I'm willing to fight
Mayweather,' said Pacquiao, who had to move down the list of contenders
for a fight after failing to make a deal with the superstar. 'But I have
to fight the guys who are hungry to fight me. Bradley is strong, and he
can punch. He's a good boxer, so it's a challenge to fight a guy like
that.'
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) realises he will
have to do plenty of promoting to get fans interested in a fight against
Bradley, a 63.5kg champion who has never been in the sort of spotlight
that follows the Filipino across the globe.
Pacquiao will make sure every
fan knows all about his unbeaten opponent (28-0, 12 KOs). But, as much
as he is trying to hype up the fight, Pacquiao knows everybody will ask
him about the potential of a Mayweather fight in November.
Even his 11-year-old son, Emmanuel Jr, is on
his dad's case. 'My kids request me: 'Dad, I want you to retire but,
before you do, you have to fight Mayweather and beat him',' he said with
a grin.
While that might have to wait, Pacquiao is set
to come face to face with another big name in Jeremy Lin. He is hopeful
of a meeting with the basketball star before the NY Knicks host the
Atlanta Hawks early this morning (Singapore time).
Pacquiao, an avid fan of the sport, is the owner of a basketball team in the Philippines called the MP-Gensan Warriors.