LAS VEGAS // Floyd Mayweather Jr seems to be running out of worthy opponents, but the unbeaten pound-for-pound king says he no longer has any interest in a big-money bout with Manny Pacquiao.
After defeating the Mexican champion Saul Alvarez on Saturday, improving his record to 45-0, Mayweather said that Pacquiao is no longer on his radar.
“I want to take my promotion to another level. I am not thinking about Manny Pacquiao,” the American said.
Mayweather seems immune to criticism that he has dodged Pacquiao and it may come from his ability to be paid enormous sums of money for fighting almost anyone. The estimated US$41 million (Dh150.6m) he earned for his majority decision over Alvarez was the biggest purse in boxing history and gave Mayweather the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super welterweight belts.
“It is about skills,” Mayweather said. “I came out and showed my skills. I just took my time and took the opportunities when I got them. I can’t say this is my best performance.”
Mayweather was a master tactician against the younger and stronger Alvarez in front of a pro-Alvarez crowd of 16,746 at the MGM Grand Hotel’s Grand Garden Arena.
He used his jab and superior hand speed to keep Alvarez at bay, but one judge, C J Ross, scored the fight a draw. The other two judges had 117-111 and 116-112 for Mayweather.
“I am in shock by whoever had it even,” he said.
This was just the second fight for Mayweather since he was released from prison after serving a sentence for assaulting the mother of his children.
He gave away 13 years in age and 15 pounds to Alvarez, who moved down in weight for the showdown.
The Mexican fighter entered the fight at 165, 13 pounds heavier than he was at Friday’s weigh-in.
For Alvarez, who turned pro at age 15 in 2005, it was the first loss of his career.
“Obviously I didn’t want to leave with a loss,” said Alvarez, who dropped to 42-1-1.
“It happens and it hurts.”
Alvarez said he thought Mayweather fought an Olympic-style fight by impressing the judges with the volume of punches he landed, not the quality.
“He is very fast and accurate,” Alvarez said.
“His punches weren’t that strong but he is making points and very fast.”
This was the second in Mayweather’s six-bout, 30-month contract with Showtime, a US cable network, which could pay him more than $200m.
The fight marked the first time since 2007 that he has fought twice in a calendar year and Mayweather said he plans to repeat that schedule in 2014 by fighting in May and September.
On the undercard, Danny Garcia kept his WBC and WBA super lightweight titles with a unanimous decision over the challenger, Lucas Matthysses.
