Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. (Credit: Reuters)

MANILA, Philippines – “I think Floyd really loves me contrary to what many believe.”

This was Manny Pacquiao’s response to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s series of social media posts which were meant to make fun of the Filipino boxer.

In an interview with Philboxing’s Eddie Alinea, the fighting congressman said he was actually flattered by Mayweather’s internet posts because the controversial boxer actually took some time and effort to produce such memes and parodies.

“Honestly, I would like to thank him for always remembering me. Haven’t you noticed, every time he talks, he talks about me,” said the 35-year-old eight-division former world champion.

The boxing scene would become boring without these controversies, said Pacquiao.

Other people would be insulted if they were in the Filipino boxer’s place, but not Pacquiao.

“Para sa akin, okay lang for him to make fun of me. Hindi naman niya sinasabing masama akong tao. Na mamatay ako o magnanakaw,” he said.

“Maybe, for him, life without me would be sadder than sad, as a line in one of our favorite songs connotes.”

Pacquiao is also thankful for his fans who defended him by coming out with their own memes. His boxing coach, Freddie Roach, is just one of those many people who reacted against Mayweather’s posts.

“People are telling me, marami daw nagagalit sa Twitter sa mga pinagsasabi niya," he said. “Well and good because that will make him realize na maraming magtatanggol sa akin sa mga sinasabi n’ya.”

Pacquiao and his camp have repeatedly reached out to Mayweather to arrange their super fight.

The American boxer, however, has come up with a gamut of reasons not to fight the Filipino superstar.

Pacquiao said he has no other choice but to just pray for his rival.

“As I have been saying from the very first time that he poked fun on me, I’ll just pray for him. Pray that God spares him from any career-ending injury so he may continue practicing our profession,” he said.

“Floyd is pound-for-pound’s best in the world today and I acknowledge that, Whatever [bad] happens to him will make the entire sports world sad.”