By Abac Cordero

HOLLYWOOD – He had little trouble fighting Joshua Clottey, and Manny Pacquiao is confident he’ll have an even easier time against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“His (Mayweather) style is not as difficult as Clottey’s. It’s easy to study,” said Pacquiao after going 12 rounds and disposing of his Ghanaian challenger last Saturday before nearly 51,000 fans at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Pacquiao won by unanimous decision, taking all 12 rounds with one judge and yielding only the third round with the two others, to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt. He was in control from start to finish, and was never in trouble despite taking some hits.

He said he took them almost voluntarily.

“Kaya eh (I can take it),” said Pacquiao after disembarking from the chartered Boeing 737-800 that took him, his wife Jinkee, his family, team members and friends – more than 150 of them – from Dallas to Los Angeles.

Pacquiao, in an overcoat, white fedora and Ferragamo shades, marched down the aisle of the “Air Pacquiao” jumbo jet to be with his passengers. Then he spent the rest of the flight playing cards with friends.

He said he tried to break Clottey’s defense and go for a knockout. But the challenger was so stubborn he let Pacquiao hit him on the body instead.

“Ayaw sumuntok eh, kaya nagpapasuntok na din ako, para bumukas (He wouldn’t throw punches so I let him hit me so he’d open up),” Pacquiao said.

The pound-for-pound king said it could be the same thing all over again if and when he gets a chance to face Mayweather, also known for his defense, and his tendency to settle for a decision than risk going for a knockout.

“But Mayweather must do his business first,” said Pacquiao of the flamboyant American, who challenges WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley for the title on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Floyd, come to the ring and fight us,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao said he’s ready to face Mayweather anytime, anywhere as long as it’s the boxing commission, and not the undefeated ex-pound-for-pound champion, that will dictate the drug testing rules.

In the meantime, Pacquiao wants to have a good time after keeping his WBO welterweight crown.

After arriving from Dallas, he boarded his two-seater Mercedes with Jinkee and headed to their $2-million home at Larchmont Park.

All seems to be well with the First Couple of pro boxing.

They plan to spend a couple more days here in LA before flying to Hawaii for the boxer’s concert on Sunday. Details of the trip back to Manila will be determined after the concert.

Politics next in line

Meanwhile, the Nacionalista Party (NP) will honor Pacquiao with a hero’s welcome.

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said Pacquiao phoned him after the fight and committed to join the NP campaign trail.

“When he arrives we will help him campaign in Sarangani and he will help me with my own campaign,” Villar said in Filipino.

Pacquiao is running for congressman under the NP banner in the lone district of Sarangani against Roy Chongbian, a scion of the province’s former governor.

He joined the NP last Dec. 18 during his 31st birthday celebration, with Villar personally administering the oath at his residence in General Santos City.

Even Villar’s closest opponent in the May 10 presidential elections, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, congratulated Pacquiao, saying it should not matter who the boxing icon will support in the coming elections.

“The pound-for-pound king is one of many reasons why Filipinos all around the world are proud of their heritage. I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for the ability he showed and his victory. This is a great honor for our country. This again proves that Filipinos can take a chance, succeed and be recognized all over the world,” Aquino said. “It doesn’t matter what color of t-shirt he chooses to wear outside of the ring.”

“When he is in the ring doing what he does best, the colors I see are red, blue, white, and yellow. He should be an inspiration to all of us,” he added.

LP guest senatorial candidate and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros also praised Pacquiao but had a mouthful to say against Villar.

“Manny Pacquiao plays fair, and Manny Villar should follow suit. Pacman had the support and admiration of the people precisely because he fought fairly, a fact that the other Manny shouldn’t ignore,” she said.

“Pacman doesn’t cheat to win. He is willing to face pain to earn his victory, making each and every match a good fight,” she explained. “The other Manny, on the other hand, has no qualms about using money to win the game.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, godfather of Pacquiao’s fourth and youngest daughter Queenie, lauded his kumpadre for dominating the fight and bringing honor to the country.

But Ang Kapatiran Party presidential candidate JC de los Reyes urged Pacquiao to deliver a knockout punch to politicians surrounding him who are promoting the blood sport, which he said is doing the country no good.

De los Reyes said instead of promoting boxing he would rather inspire kids to study and pursue their ambitions in life rather than become a boxer. read more