Pacquiao to Mayweather: ‘Prove who’s really No. 1’

Manny Pacquiao at the Wildcard Gym. Photo by Chris Farina / Manny Pacquiao official Facebook page

MANILA  – After agreeing to all terms for a long-anticipated showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao dared the undefeated American boxer to sign the fight contract and prove that he deserves to be called No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world.

“The challenge is … we know he’s undefeated and claiming he’s No. 1 pound-for-pound in the world. I just want to prove who’s really No. 1. If the fight is on and he beats me, I’m really convinced he is No. 1. If not, I’m No. 1,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire.

As of now, Pacquiao admitted that he has no idea whether Mayweather, undefeated in 47 fights, would finally sign their mega fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

“My promoter and I, we’ve already agreed to the terms and conditions of whatever he wants. We’re just waiting on the signed contract from him,” Pacquiao said.

If Mayweather would still refuse to fight him, Pacquiao said he is ready to move on and look for other opponents, possibly against Amir Khan.

“That’s the hard part – if they will fight or not. We have to know soon, because if they will not fight, we can move on and choose another opponent,” Pacquiao told LA Times.

Pacquiao (57-5-2) said the fans deserve to finally see the highly-anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

“The fans deserve this fight,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao, ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound, is the reigning WBO welterweight champion while Mayweather is the king of the WBC welterweight division.

The two fighters have reportedly agreed to the purse split, believed to be 60/40 in favor of Maywether and on Olympic-style drug testing.