Manny Pacquiao’s Latest Challenge to Floyd Mayweather Viewed as Sign of Desperation

Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao has called out Floyd Mayweather Jr. before, and this time, he wanted the reigning pound-for-pound champ to call him and set up their showdown inside the ring.

In an interview this week on Keith Olbermann's ESPN show, Pacquiao said he remains interested in fighting Money May despite several failed talks in the past.

Eight-division world champion Pacquiao added that his camp is always ready to set up negotiations for a possible showdown between him and Mayweather in the future.

"I want that fight but it's up to him," Pacquiao said. "What I can say now is that our line is open 24 hours, seven days a week. If he will call and say 'yes' then the fight [will happen]," Pacquiao told Olbermann.

When asked by Olbermann if he believes Mayweather doesn't want to duke out with him in the ring, Pacquiao didn't mince word in saying that the undefeated Mayweather has no intention of fighting him.

"That's what I believe," Pacquiao said. "Thousands, millions of fans are waiting for that fight and been asking me many questions about when will that fight happen. I tell them I am willing to fight him any time but the problem is him. Many alibis. [Operators are] standing by 24 hours, seven days a week."

Another Desperate Move By Pacquiao

Pacquiao's latest comments on the never-ending talks with his long-overdue bout with Mayweather certainly triggered debates on a number of boxing forums.

While many boxing aficionados are still excited to see the two top boxers going toe-to-toe in the ring, Mayweather fans describe Pacman's recent challenge as another act of desperation to land a fight with the Grand Rapids native.

Boxing News 24 pundit Chris Wallace believed Pacquiao might have also used his feud with Mayweather as another way to hype his upcoming match with Timothy Bradley Jr. on April 12 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

"To some fans, and perhaps to Mayweather, this will be a sure 100 percent sign that Pacquiao is showing how desperate he is for the fight, because of trying to hype his upcoming April 12th rematch against WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (31-0, 12 KO's), Pacquiao is asking Mayweather to call him to make a fight happen," Wallace stressed.

Coming off a sensational 12-round unanimous decision win over Brandon Rios, Pacquiao is fighting Bradley for the second time in his career, and the bout is for the WBO Welterweight Championship belt.