Pacquiao: March 13 fight vs Mayweather not too early

MANILA, Philippines – Despite his grueling fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last month, Manny Pacquiao guaranteed his readiness to face undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

“I feel okay, at ready to fight sa March 13. I have time to rest and I can assure that I’ll be fine,” the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion told ABS-CBN News Correspondent Dyan Castillejo during the opening of his memoribilia shop in Manila Tuesday.

Pacquiao beat Cotto by technical knockout in the 12th round on November 14 in Las Vegas. He suffered a right ear injury due to Cotto's punches. Mayweather, on the other hand, scored an "easy" victory over Juan Manuel Marquez last September 19.

The pound-for-pound king also said he has already watched Mayweather’s tapes several times. “Marami na. Siguro hindi lang tatlong beses. Basta marami na,” he stated.

As for where he will hold his training camp, Pacquiao said he has yet to talk to his coach, Freddie Roach, on the matter.

Roach earlier revealed that he wants World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Amir Khan to be Pacquiao’s sparring mate again. Khan sparred with Pacquiao before the Filipino boxing sensation fought Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Other details of the blockbuster bout between Pacquiao and Mayweather have yet to be ironed out such as the venue of the fight.

But he assured that the mega fight will be a spectacle: “Of course both of us kailangang i-prove kung sino ang magaling at matibay at sinisikap naming makapagbigay ng magandang show at magandang laban sa mga tao.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather clash will be officially announced on January 11. Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) will put his WBO title on the line while Mayweather’s undefeated record (40-0, 25 KOs) will be at stake.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao shot down reports saying that Roach opposed the March 13 bout against Mayweather.

“Si Freddie nga ang unang naghamon kay Floyd Mayweather at gusto niya ‘yon. Sana ipakita niyo kung may video ba si Freddie Roach na ayaw niya muna akong lumaban kay Floyd Mayweather at ‘yon maniniwala ako,” he said.