Floyd Mayweather has confirmed talks with Conor McGregor about a rematch to once again take Manny Pacquiao out of the equation.
Mayweather is putting on more showings ahead of his weekend return at RIZIN 38.
McGregor, the Irishman who looked out of place the last time they met, is likely to face Mayweather again in 2023.
Who will Floyd Mayweather fight next?
At the press conference for his clash with Mikuru Asakura in Japan on September 25, Mayweather gave Pacquiao another takedown.
“I want to go out this weekend and have fun [against Mikuru Asakura]. Then I have another exhibition in Dubai in November and me and Conor McGregor in 2023,” Mayweather told the assembled press, including The Daily Mail.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition of a real fight. But there have been talks of both. I prefer an exhibition.
The news will disappoint Pacquiao, who was hoping to fight Mayweather again after taking on a combat YouTuber in December.
McGregor and Mayweather previously topped Pacquiao’s wanted list after having ties to clashes in the Middle East.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
According to reports, Pacquiao vs. McGregor almost agreed in 2020 after Mayweather decided against a “Pacman” rematch.
This scenario is no longer the case if you believe Mayweather’s own words that he could earn nine figures next year.
The only two fighters those numbers are possible against are McGregor and Pacquiao.
Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s trainer in the Philippines, confirmed that more exhibitions are taking place after DK Yoo.
Pacquiao’s team hoped Mayweather would be one of them.
“Especially now that we don’t have a world champion,” Fernandez said. “This exhibition fight is not a joke because they will be fighting without a helmet, unlike other exhibitions.
“[As] not only his best friend but his coach, I need to support him. To make sure he’s fit,” he added.
Regarding another exhibition in 2023, Buboy responded, “We can’t say, but it’s possible.
“We cannot say for the better because, in the end, it depends on him. It’s still different when it’s Manny Pacquiao who fights.”
First option
As WBN first reported, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II was the first choice for Middle Eastern investors when the issue was first traded.
Mayweather eventually made no move on the option. This led Pacquiao to McGregor. However, that fight fizzled out under the firestorm of legal action involving his management company.
Both Mayweather and Pacquiao seemed open to the option of facing McGregor. It looks like Mayweather has won that race.
If Mayweather doesn’t complete a deal, the situation leaves Pacquiao and McGregor free to begin the groundwork to revive their deal.
Mayweather or Pacquiao were expected to revive plans for a Pay Per View matchup. Any notion is off the table until at least the end of 2023.
No possibility
As for Mayweather vs. McGregor, the truth is that the UFC star has no chance of being a winner. He doesn’t even have a chance at a puncher.
Those sentiments were echoed before he clashed with Mayweather in August 2017.
Mayweather proved that McGregor is out of his league. The Irishman cannot compete with the top stars in a boxing ring.
His game is the UFC, which is not the same. No amount of amateur boxing experience could prepare McGregor for May or Pac.
McGregor found it quite difficult to approach the former pound-for-pound king. So, with Pacquiao having significantly more speed than Mayweather, McGregor really doesn’t stand a chance.
Boxing won’t buy it. That is a fact, since we know the result. We didn’t even need the Mayweather blueprint to see that fact.
Five years ago, 5.1 million worldwide bought the Mayweather vs. McGregor. Nevertheless. It was more memorable for the press conferences than for the fight.
The debacle spawned a catchy song by an Irish singer that went viral, rather than a memorable event.
Getting anywhere near that account in the United States will be a tough sell. Although we know it, it is a meeting that can make a profitable business worldwide.
cheated again
Fooled once into buying a boxing match with Conor McGregor, many won’t be fooled again.
McGregor is a showman, a fighter but certainly not a boxer. “The Notorious” has put the UFC on the map, but he can’t box at a high level.
Mayweather and Pacquiao will absolutely dominate him in any boxing competition at any age.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II is the best option, but boxing legend Floyd Mayweather avoids a competitive fight at all costs.
Having already pummeled the Irishman from pillar to pole in Las Vegas, “Money” could end up bummed out by future pay-per-view sales.
The promoter might be better off in a rematch with social media star Logan Paul or facing his brother Jake Paul. Just because of the size, those bouts would be less one-sided than McGregor’s.
Mayweather’s team should rethink McGregor II after the scheduled exhibition with Deji in November.
WBN editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. He follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
