Manny Pacquiao Hits Back at Floyd Mayweather Jr Jibe Ahead of Chris Algieri Showdown

Manny Pacquiao has rubbished suggestions he is using talk of a long-awaited showdown to heighten interest in his November meeting with Chris Algieri.

In the build-up to Pacquiao's first title defence since defeating Timothy Bradley in April, the prospect of a meeting with five-weight world champion Mayweather has never been far from discussion.

The Filipino's promoter and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has been relentless in his efforts to whip up a frenzy, suggesting negotiations between the fighters' rival television networks HBO (Pacquiao) and Showtime (Mayweather) are ready to sign a deal to make it happen in 2015.

Such suggestions were laughed off by Mayweather, dismissing them as a vain attempt to sell tickets for Pacquiao's meeting with Algieri, a relatively low-profile opponent for the 35-year-old given his history in the ring.

Pacquiao has since drawn a line under the exchanges, insisting he will no longer discuss a potential clash with the undefeated American until after his next fight.

"I don't want to bring up Floyd's name because he might think I am using him to market my fight against Algieri," Pacquiao told the Philippine Star. "After the Algieri fight, then we can talk about Floyd or any other fighter. At the moment, my main and only focus is Algieri."

Algieri, who was forced to relinquish his junior welterweight title ahead of his meeting with Pacquiao, holds the unusual distinction of holding a Master's degree from the New York Institute of Technology.

His wits outside of the ring are of little concern to Pacquiao, though.

"So what if Algieri has a Masters degree? I have a Masters degree in boxing," Pacquiao saud. "I've been fighting since 1995. I've done over 60 fights. My experience speaks for itself. I also have a doctorate, honoris causa, in human kinetics from Southwestern University."