Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao says he hopes to finally step in the ring with arch-rival Floyd Mayweather next year, but says his priority for now is his upcoming opponent Chris Algieri.
"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," he told AFP during a promotional trip to Hong Kong.
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.
But he said his immediate focus was on his November 23 World Boxing Organisation welterweight title defence in Macau against former kickboxer Algieri.
Pacquiao previously dismissed the American as only an "okay" fighter.
But he denied underestimating Algieri (20-0) and said he had been training to face a taller fighter. Algieri is about nine centimetres taller than the 1.69m Pacquiao.
"No, absolutely I'm not taking this fight lightly because I know his hunger and he's young and he wants to win the fight, but I will not let that happen," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao also said he was inspired by the enthusiastic support he had received in Hong Kong, home to a large community of expatriate Filipinos.
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