Muhammad Ali Rooting for Manny Pacquiao Over Floyd Mayweather
In the hype leading up to the May 2 mega bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, boxing fans are inevitably going to choose sides. Well, Pacquiao can take solace knowing that he has "The Greatest" on his.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Muhammad Ali's daughter, Rasheda Ali, says, "My dad is Team Pacquiao all the way!"
"My dad really likes Manny," she continued, revealing that Pacquiao even attended Ali's 70th birthday party three years ago. "He's a huge fan of his. He knows Manny's a great fighter, but it's more about what he does outside the ring. He's such a charitable person."
As the boxing icon's daughter tells it, Ali respects Mayweather as a boxer, but the beloved former three-time heavyweight boxing champion relates to Pacman more. He loves the impact the Filipino fighter has beyond the sweet science, because he too took political and socially conscious stands, especially refusing to serve in the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War in 1967. Ali doesn't see that kind of impact with Mayweather.
"My dad stood for things," she added. "Mayweather...I don't think there's a comparison."
Ali won't attend the May 2 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, but like many, he will be watching from home.
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(Photos from left: Michael Hickey/Getty Images for HBO, Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
