Manny Pacquiao took a jab at Floyd Mayweather for fighting non-boxers as the Filipino icon returns to the sport with a title bout against American Errol Spence.

Pacquiao will fight for the first time in two years when he tangles with reigning International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight champion Spence in August.

“I’m not like other boxers who fight only for the money. They will challenge non-boxers just for the money,” Pacquiao told the Radyo Singko program Power and Play with Noli Eala in Filipino.

“As for me, I want a real fight. I fight to challenge the best.”

Mayweather, who is already retired from professional boxing, notably faced YouTube star Logan Paul in an exhibition clash earlier this June.

The exhibition bout did not have a winner, with Paul managing to survive eight rounds against the undefeated Mayweather, who finished his storied career with a 50-0 record.

After his duel with Paul, Mayweather said it is “sad” that Pacquiao still has to fight Spence.

“When I come and do an exhibition and come out boxing and have some fun, I do it cause I want to do it, not cause I have to do it,” Mayweather said.

“Whereas Pacquiao, at his age, [it] is sad that he has to fight. I’m financially set and I want to let everybody know this.”

Pacquiao, though, defended his decision to battle the unbeaten Spence, who is widely considered as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

“If we only talk about money, then I should have just fought a non-boxer. If we only talk about money, why would I choose a legend, an undefeated boxer?” Pacquiao said.

“This is a real fight, not like other fights where you go up against someone who is not a boxer.”

Pacquiao and Mayweather locked horns in 2015 in a bout dubbed as “Fight of the Century.”

The bout, though, did not live up to expectations as a defense-oriented Mayweather hacked out a unanimous decision win. – Rappler.com