Mayweather to Pacquiao: ‘Step up punk’

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced on Twitter late Monday night that he ‘just won $400K on Alabama, the new National Champs.’ He awoke Tuesday and repeated his case for a bigger event: a super-fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather has tentatively reserved May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a fight date. His attorney last week sought to postpone his scheduled Friday incarceration date for a 90-day jail term so Mayweather could keep the fight date.

That date, Mayweather said on Twitter, should be with Pacquiao.

‘Manny Pacquiao, I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see,’ Mayweather tweeted.

The world’s top two boxers -- Mayweather is unbeaten in 42 pro fights, Pacquiao has dominated the sport for the last six years -- have tried and failed three previous times to stage a bout, with camps from both sides blaming the other for not truly wanting the bout.

Pacquiao looked very human in his close unanimous decision in November over rival Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said afterward that he would seek a fourth fight against Marquez in the late spring rather than a megafight against Mayweather, who was facing the uncertainty of a domestic violence case.

A Nevada judge sentenced Mayweather to 90 days behind bars, but then allowed him to delay his jail time until June 1.

‘My jail sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in,’ Mayweather tweeted in calling out Pacquiao. ‘Step up punk.’

Pacquiao is in meetings this week in the Philippines with Arum, working to select a next opponent. Arum said late Monday he’ll respect Pacquiao’s wishes for a next opponent despite past bitterness with Mayweather, whom Arum formerly promoted.

Pacquiao is also likely to consider four other opponents: unbeaten junior-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Cathedral City, Marquez, current super-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and another junior-welterweight champion, Lamont Peterson.

Arum did not immediately return phone calls Tuesday.

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-- Lance Pugmire