There was a time when Manny Pacquiao challenging Floyd Mayweather Jr. would make major headlines. There was a time when it would have been the biggest fight in boxing history, when a fight between them would settle epic discussions of greatness, ability and all-time rank.
Today those conversations are more of a dream. Pacquiao and Mayweather have sparred verbally for the better part of five years and are now further away from fighting than ever before. Both fighters are tied to different promotional and TV partners who don't do business with each other, and Pacquiao's recent loss to Juan Manuel Marquez killed a lot of buzz surrounding the fight, particularly given how Mayweather easily dismantled Marquez in 2009.
But Pacquiao seems to have moved on from both, calling out Mayweather yet again while dismissing Marquez's vicious right hand last December as a "lucky punch."
Pacquiao is preparing to fight up-and-coming brawler Brandon Rios. The fight promises to be entertaining given the aggressive style both fighters utilize and will provide clear evidence for Pacquiao's ability moving forward. If Pacquiao can dismantle the young pup, he'll move immediately back to prominence and press interviews like this one will become more common.
If Rios gets a hold of Pacquiao, this interview will go down as one of the last vestiges of a potentially shot fighter.
