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Muhammad Ali backing Pacquiao 'all the way' in bout with Mayweather

Reuters

Everybody and their dog has an opinion about who will emerge victorious in the long-awaited bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. 

You say Money, your best friend is backing Pac-Man. Ask the two people closest to you right now, and you may very well get two different answers. The whole world is making a prediction ahead of the boxing world's showpiece fight, set for May 2 in Las Vegas. 

None of them really matter. Except for this one.

Muhammad Ali's daughter says the former heavyweight champ is backing Pacquiao to unify the welterweight world title in just over a month at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"My dad is Team Pacquiao all the way," Rasheda Ali told TMZ Sports. "My dad really likes Manny. He’s a huge fan of his.

"He knows Manny’s a great fighter but it’s more about what he does outside the ring. He’s such a charitable person."

Ali added that her father will not be in attendance on the evening, but will certainly tune in to the event.

"There’s no question he’s going to order it. It takes my dad way back to when he was fighting," she said.

The prediction shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, given Rasheda's revelation that the two men have been friends for quite some time. The Filipino star was a guest at Ali's 70th birthday party back in 2012, she noted.

As for the relationship with Mayweather, well ...

"My dad stood for things," Rasheda said, referring to her father's extensive list of charity and humanitarian efforts after the conclusion of his illustrious career in the ring. "Mayweather ... I don't think there's a comparison."

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