Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is out again as his career rival Floyd Mayweather prepares another fight before the end of the year.
The oldest winner of a welterweight belt remains in line for a fight against Mayweather after the latter declared he would try to go 51-0 in a professional fight twelve months from now.
Six of those have already passed, and Mayweather has a September showing planned at RIZIN 38. According to reports from the Middle East, Floyd will fight again in Dubai this November or December.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao II
This scenario leaves Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II off the table until at least the spring of 2023. By then, Floyd Mayweather, now a grandfather, will be 46 years old.
However, Mayweather and Pacquiao continue to be in each other’s thoughts. The possibilities surrounding a future rematch remain firmly on the table.
It’s simply a question of whether it will be an exhibition or a full pro-swansong fight for both of them. There is no question that Mayweather is on Pacquiao’s mind and vice versa.
The lingering process comes as Pacquiao prepares for a first foray into the exhibition market this December. The former senator from the Philippines battles DK Yoo, a combat YouTuber.
He was previously linked to exhibitions against Oscar De La Hoya [who lost a split decision to Mayweather] and ESPN analyst Timothy Bradley in the United States.
An April or May date of next year is feasible for MayPac 2, if both of you want it.
When they fought in 2015, Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao broke box office records with an unsurpassed 4.6 million buys.
Reports that the two could meet again are always going around. Those rumors build on previous teases by both sides in the public domain when they last opened talks.
“When I come in and put on an exhibition or go out and box and have fun, I do it because I want to, not because I have to,” Mayweather said of Pacquiao.
“Whereas Pacquiao, it’s sad that he has to fight at his age. I am financially established. I want everyone to know this.”
Manny Pacquiao open to rematch
Speaking to Power and Play, Pacquiao responded: “Why would I try to fight an undefeated fighter if I’m chasing the paycheck?
“We know this is a real fight. I fight because this is my passion. I love beating undefeated fighters and bringing honor to my country.
“I’m not like other guys in this just for the money.
“Some other fighters [like Floyd Mayweather] challenge non-boxers just to get paid. I want to fight. I want to challenge the best.”
He continued: “I need to have endurance and good conditioning. You have to expect more action in the ring in this fight compared to my last three contests.
“I have to make sure my stamina is enough, so I don’t fall short in all 12 rounds.”
Preparing for a doomed challenge to Errol Spence’s WBC and IBF welterweight title, the eight-weight champion added, “If I’m fighting for the money, then I would have picked some scrub to fight in.”
Predicting their final fight, “Pac-man” concluded: “It’s hard to say now.
“Could be [my last professional fight], but there could also be more fights after this one. I’m taking it one at a time. We cannot predict the future.”
He walked away from the sport after losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. But there’s always that nagging feeling, even in the forties, that we haven’t seen Floyd Mayweather’s back against Manny Pacquiao.
For now, it’s in the background once again.
WBN editor Phil Jay has over ten years of boxing news experience. He follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
