Mayweather out to prove he's better than Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather Jr. came out of retirement with the hope of regaining the pound-for-pound title he formerly holds when he last fought and defeated Ricky Hatton in 2007. Manny Pacquiao is currently rated as the best pound-for-pound fighter after dominating boxing in the past three years and not losing a match in his last 10 fights. But to get to Pacquiao, Mayweather Jr. needs to get past Juan Manuel Marquez, who is another fighter aching for a rematch with the Filipino ring idol. “I don’t really know too much on Pacquiao. I’ve seen the guy fight five or six times. He is a pretty good fighter," said Mayweather Jr. in an interview with 24 Oras. “You know what I have done in the sport of boxing. I have never been beaten. I left the sport on top, I come back on top. I am the highest paid guy in the sport of boxing." However, Pacquiao’s achievements can not also be ignored. Last year, Pacquiao fought and won in three different weight divisions and silenced all doubters after his quick two-round demolition of Hatton. Pacquiao is ranked second only to boxing legend Henry Armstrong, who in 1937 won three belts in different weight divisions in one year. Fans are eagerly waiting for a Mayweather Jr.-Pacquiao fight that could raise pay-per-view buys to the roof and give both fighters their biggest paycheck, if both parties can agree with the revenue split. Asked what makes a pound-for-pound king? Mayweather Jr., who made his announcement of coming out of retirement to face Marquez on July 18 the same day of the Pacquiao-Hatton bout, said “A guy who already has 16 or 17 fights and was only a professional for one year and became a champion for two years. A six-time world champion in five different weight classes without loss." However, the pound-for-pound title is not official and it is not even included in the list of titles that are up for grabs by the five boxing organizations that sanctions official matches – IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBF. It is a make-believe award given to a boxer that has proven himself against the best fighters and is one of the sport’s top attractions. – GMANews.TV