Boxing: Add Ali to those who wants Mayweather-Pacquiao

Timothy Bradley (left) of US defends against Manny Pacquiao of Philippines (right) during their WBO World Welterweight Championship title match at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Timothy Bradley (left) of US defends against Manny Pacquiao of Philippines (right) during their WBO World Welterweight Championship title match at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

LAS VEGAS (AFP) - Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is happy that Floyd Mayweather remains unbeaten, but the sporting icon wants to see him face Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The former world heavyweight champion posted a message on Twitter hailing Mayweather's majority-decision triumph Saturday over Argentina's Marcos Maidana but slipped in a jab of his own about Mayweather having yet to face Pacquiao.

"Congratulations FloydMayweather. Maybe after you rest up we can see you rumble with MannyPacquiao!" Ali tweeted.

Mayweather, 37, and Pacquiao, 35, talked about a showdown years ago as fans pushed for the superstars to meet in the ring but money and blood testing issues scuttled the talks.

Since then, Mayweather (46-0 with 26 knockouts) has said he will never work with Pacquiao's long-time promoter, Bob Arum, and Pacquiao (56-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts) is reportedly in talks for a new deal with Arum that would likely take him to the end of his career.

Pacquiao beat Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision last month, avenging a controversial 2012 defeat, and could face Juan Manuel Marquez for the fifth time if the Mexican wins a fight later this month to become his mandatory next title challenger. Marquez stopped Pacquaio in 2012.

Mayweather did not address Ali's Twitter remark but did return to tweeting Monday after his tweets were named on Time magazine's list of the 140 best Twitter feeds of this year.

"It's an honor to be on Time's list of best Twitter feeds of 2014. Go grab Time Magazine from the store," Mayweather tweeted.

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