• Boxing/UFC

Penn backs Pacquiao to mess up Mayweather

ESPN staff
November 29, 2011
BJ Penn is a fine boxer © Getty Images
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BJ Penn is using his current "retired" status in MMA to cast his eye over other sports, namely the potential Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather Jnr showdown in boxing.

Penn has officially hung up his gloves following defeat to Nick Diaz at UFC 137. However, the former two-weight champion has confessed he is likely to return in the future.

While he has the extra spare time, Penn has been answering questions on the Pacquiao v Mayweather battle, which has been tentatively mooted for May 5. The winner, in the eyes of many, gets crowned the undisputed pound-for-pound king.

After Pacquiao's recent struggle against Juan Manuel Marquez, it is Mayweather who is viewed as the favourite - having never been beaten - but Penn insists he would be firmly in the Filipino fighter's corner.

"Pacquiao, he's my kind of fighter, I'm a fan of his," Penn told abs-cbnNEWS.com. "I like his style. He tries to go for the finish.

"I would like to see Pacquiao win because I know if Pacquiao wins, it's gonna be an exciting victory."

Penn is widely regarding as one of the finest technical boxers in mixed martial arts, having won UFC gold at lightweight and welterweight. He is the most dominant lightweight the UFC has ever housed, and he insists the two sports can improve by taking aspects of each other.

"Boxing is part of MMA. You need to be able to know how to fight MMA," Penn said. "Boxing is huge, and it all blends in somehow with ultimate fighting."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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