'Step up Punk' - Mayweather calls out Manny Pacquiao

ONE of the most eagerly sought after boxing matches of all time has crept a little closer to reality after Floyd Mayweather Jr used Twitter to call out rival Manny Pacquiao. "Step up, Punk," Mayweather tweeted Pacquiao yesterday
 
The two men, boxing's biggest stars, have flirted for more than two years over arranging a bout. It would likely prove the most lucrative in the sport's history.
 
Last November, Mayweather suggested a 5 May date in Las Vegas, with his team revealing they had reserved the MGM Grand. Promoter Richard Schaeffer, chief executive of Golden Boy Productions, went as far as to say: "We have informed the pay-per-view industry and I have the arena on hold."
 
But the date was thrown into doubt when, just before Christmas, Mayweather was handed down a 90-day jail sentence for domestic violence.
 
Last week, however, a Las Vegas judge agreed to push back the sentence until June, allowing Mayweather to honour the date. As a result, Mayweather tweeted yesterday: "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see."
 
A second tweet read: "My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk."

Pacquiao has so far ignored Mayweather's challenge. His last activity on Twitter was nearly a month ago.

• Mystery man 'not with IBF'

In other boxing news, the IBF has confirmed that the 'mystery man' present ringside at Amir Khan's losing fight with Lamont Peterson is not an official of the organisation.

Khan has demanded an explanation as to why the man, now identified as Mustafa Ameen, appeared to have been tampering with score cards and interacting with officials.
 
That Ameen was allowed such access in an unofficial capacity adds weight to Khan's request for the original bout to be declared a no-contest and a rematch organised. The WBA has already told the BBC it wants to see this happen. ·