Before I get into this interview, I have to say what a big fan I am for this champion. There are not a lot of international sport champs that have my color skin. For me, there’s what, Christian Hosoi, Bruce Lee, uh Voltron? He is holding it down for all of the Philippines and aspiring Asian athletes. Big respect!! Today the champ reins as WBC super welterweight world champion, former WBO welterweight world champion, former WBC lightweight world champion, former WBC super featherweight world champion, former IBF jr. featherweight world champion, former WBC flyweight world champion, WBC international super featherweight champion, former WBC international super bantamweight champion, and former OPBF flyweight champion. He is 32 years old right now. Pound for pound one of the sport’s all-time greats. There was Cassius Clay, now there is Manny Pacquiao.
FEB.10 2011, afternoon press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel for SHOWTIME’S EXCLUSIVE BIG EVENT! MANNY PACQUIAO vs SHANE MOSLEY.
//PRESS// Did you have any preference over him, Did you want to fight anyone else?
//MP// I’m a fighter and I will fight anyone.
//PRESS// What can we expect from the fight with Mosley?
//MP// It’s going to be a good fight, I will train hard for this fight to give a good show.
//PRESS// We hear you will be invited to the White House and meet the Obama’s?
//MP// It’s my privilege
//PRESS// I know you are focused on Mosley, but do you hope for that fight with Mayweather?
//MP// For me, if the fight happens it’s good, good for the fans. If the fight doesn’t happen, I’m ok because I’ve already achieved all I need in boxing.
//PRESS// In a recent interview, he (Mayweather) said that he still thinks it might and can happen. Are you encouraged by that interview or what he had to say?
//MP// You know, right now I’m praying for him and his personal life. I am not a bad guy thinking bad things of him. I’m praying for him to get better, everything in his life so he can fight.
//PRESS// Are you ok if you don’t fight him?
//MP// Yeah, no problem. The problem is not mine. It’s from him. His personal life.
//PRESS// Did you know Shane before?
//MP// Yes, three years ago I met him at the gym, Wildcard..
//PRESS// Is your camp going to be different for the fight against Sugar Shane Mosley?
//MP// Yes, this camp will be different, we need to be strong, fast, and quick.
//PRESS// This visit to the White House, does it have an agenda?
//MP// No, but if that happens, that’s politics.
//PRESS//Shane Mosley says that his body shot will knock you out. How are you going to stay away from his body shots?
//MP// That is why I have to train hard. I have to prepare for this fight.
//PRESS// A lot of this seems to be made to make it seem that Mosley has a shot at you. Don’t you feel confident that you’ll win?
//MP// I will train hard for this fight, he’s not an easy opponent, you know what I mean. It depends on how I will have prepared for this fight. We will train hard.
//PRESS// You don’t want to take him for granted?
//MP// Yes. He’s a strong fighter.
//PRESS// How many rounds will it go?
//MP// The usual.
//PRESS// Will you fight at Super welterweight again?
//MP// I don’t know if I will be able to fight at 154lbs because I think it’s too big for me. I want to stay at 147lbs at welterweight. You know my weight is 143-142lbs, it’s hard to be at 154lbs.
//PRESS// Who will be your sparing partners for this fight?
//MP// I don’t know.
//PRESS// Game plan for this fight?
//FRED ROACH// Hope to win every round and go with a good game plan.
//PRESS// For the Margarito fight, Pacquiao says he trained but obviously you guys were a little disappointed in the camp over all?
//FRED ROACH// In the Philippines, he has politics of course but the last three weeks he was a machine. He did his own thing and got into shape like he always does. I do think we did too much too close to the fight that time. But since then, we have talked about the distractions in the Philippines and so we will train four weeks back here at home in L.A.
//PRESS// Is that the reason for why you want the four weeks here in L.A. To have more extra time away from all that?
//FRED ROACH// Philippines, you know, politicians pull him out of training all the time and talk to him.
//PRESS// Manny, do you think this will be a big fight?
//MP// This will be one of my hardest fights in my boxing career.
