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HONG KONG. — Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao said he hoped to finally step in the ring with arch-rival Floyd Mayweather next year as he denied he was taking his upcoming opponent Chris Algieri lightly.
Pacquiao, mobbed by his supporters during a promotional trip to Hong Kong, said “I’m crossing my fingers” that the hotly anticipated Mayweather fight could happen in 2015.

“Hopefully that fight will happen by next year,” he told AFP in an interview.

“I’m crossing my fingers that that fight will happen but right now my mind is already set to focus on my next fight with Algieri. I think the time to talk about that issue is after the fight.”

The eyes of the boxing world have long been on a showdown between the unbeaten American and eight-division world champion Pacquiao (56-5-2), two of the greatest boxers of their generation.

The two regularly exchange taunts with “Money” Mayweather recently posting pictures of Pacquiao’s losses, and the Filipino last month telling his rival to stop “blabbing” and fight him.

Pacquiao (35) said he had a “couple of years” left before retiring — seemingly ample time to secure the money-spinning fight, if the two sides’ promoters can settle their differences. — AFP