Paquiao keeping an eye on Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is taking Floyd Mayweather’s scheduled fight with Victor Ortiz as a sign of good things to come.

“Maybe he wants to fight me now,” said Pacquiao in a recent interview with ABS-CBN before he took off for a quiet vacation with his family in Boracay.

The pound-for-pound champion has been in the island paradise for almost a week now, staying in a place owned by his close friend Luis “Chavit” Singson.

Pacquiao was supposed to leave for the United States last Sunday for a previous commitment. But there was a change of plan, and instead the entire family flew to Boracay.

Pacquiao said Mayweather choosing Ortiz, a 24-year-old southpaw, as his opponent on Sept. 17 could be taken as a sign that the American is gearing up for the Filipino congressman.

Mayweather hasn’t fought since May of 2010, when he outpointed Shane Mosley, and coming out of his shell to fight Ortiz is something that left a lot of people guessing on his immediate plans.

“Maybe that’s why he chose to fight a southpaw,” said Pacquiao.

Twice over the last couple of years, a superfight between Pacquiao and Mayweather came close to happening. But for various reasons it never happened, and others have given up on it.

But there’s too much money on the table that sooner or later, perhaps by the first quarter of 2012, it might happen.

Pacquiao vs Mayweather would be the richest fight in boxing. Both fighters stand to earn no less than $40 million each for the fight, even as recent stories said Mayweather is asking for $100 million or the fight won’t happen at all.

Pacquiao has been busy through the years beating up bigger foes like Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Mosley. He said he’s ready to fight Mayweather anytime, anywhere.

It’s just a matter of the promoters agreeing to do the fight, according to Pacquiao, and both fighters agreeing on the drug-testing procedure.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, felt the same way when it was announced that the undefeated American, now 34, had chosen Ortiz (29-2-2 with 22 knockouts) as his next foe.

“Of course, that’s the first thing I thought,” Roach was quoted as saying of Mayweather’s fight with the reigning WBC welterweight champion and fellow American.

Pacquiao said he can only wait and see what the future holds, what Mayweather wants.

For the meantime, he’s enjoying Boracay with his wife and kids, and looking forward to his November clash with Juan Manuel Marquez.

“Good luck sa kanya (Mayweather),” said Pacquiao.