Philippines, 20 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Floyd rematch talk persists


PhilBoxing.com




Even as there is media frenzy over the July 20 WBA welterweight unification championship showdown between ?super? titlist Keith Thurman and ?regular? beltholder Sen. Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, talk of a rematch with undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. remains a hot topic whenever the press interviews the Filipino ring icon.

During the media tour to hype the Pacquiao-Thurman bout in New York and Los Angeles this week, the fighting Senator disclosed information that Mayweather is ?thinking? of staging the much-awaited rematch in the Middle East.

?I heard (Mayweather) is talking about a promotion in the Middle East area, Saudi Arabia or Dubai,? said Pacquiao in an appearance on the Fox Sports show ?Undisputed? with hosts Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe and Jenny Taft the other day. ?People asked me if I?m willing to fight Floyd. Anytime. I?m still in sports, I?m active. I have no problem with that.?

Pacquiao said he?s chasing the rematch to settle once and for all who?s the superior fighter considering the doubts surrounding the outcome of their 2015 meeting where he hurt his shoulder in the fourth round but still stood his ground to push Mayweather to the limit. Mayweather won by a unanimous 12-round decision.

?People have a question mark in their minds,? said Pacquiao. ?It?s really important for me to fight Mayweather especially since some fans are doubting who was the winner. I believe I won the fight. Mayweather didn?t throw punches. But I respect the judges? decision. It?s done and that?s why I want the rematch.?

Pacquiao, 40, took a swipe at Mayweather?s ego when he said the man called Money, who?s now 42 and retired, is scared of a rematch and ?keeps avoiding me.? Pacquiao said when he beats Thurman, the more Mayweather may want to stay retired. ?But you never know,? he said. ?Maybe, he?ll come back.? Mayweather has a long history of un-retiring so if he un-retires once more to fight Pacquiao in a rematch, it wouldn?t be a surprise.

Curiously, Mayweather Promotions is involved in putting up the Pacquiao-Thurman fight with MP Promotions and TGB Promotions. ?Pacquiao is currently the biggest name in the sport and Thurman is a young, skilled undefeated fighter in the prime of his career, making for a compelling matchup,? said Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe.

Focusing on the Thurman fight, Pacquiao said he?s motivated to win. ?I don?t like my opponent telling me he?ll send me to retirement,? he said. ?I have a couple of fights left. This fight is going to be fun.?

Thurman, 30, said Pacquiao is ?beatable? and he?ll put an end to his boxing career and make him a full-time Senator. ?For me, his boxing tactics are predictable,? said Thurman. ?He fights in spurts and you have to take advantage of that. You have to be respectful of his power. But I believe my movement, athleticism and ring knowledge will be able to present him something he?s not seen in all his years of boxing.? Thurman vowed to send Pacquiao into retirement like what the Filipino did to Oscar de la Hoya in 2008.

MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said, ?Fans have always enjoyed watching Pacquiao and Thurman compete in the ring and we are confident they will, once again, give boxing fans world-wide everything they?re expecting and more,? said Gibbons. ?Manny is fighting in the biggest fights on a global scale and it doesn?t get any more global than Fox Sports pay-per-view. Senator Pacquiao is thrilled to be back in Viva Las Vegas, fighting in the best venue for boxing, the MGM Grand Garden Arena. This is where the Pacquiao vs. Thurman world welterweight championship belongs.? Tickets are now on sale for the fight in five prices----$300, $500, $750, $1,000 and $1,500.

Photo: Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman with Sean Gibbons (photo by Jhay Otamias).



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 0 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • “The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Reina Tellez Returns to the Ring Following World Title Challenge Against Amanda Serrano
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Mombay, Garras top Helubong 50km Uphill Ultra Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Arijan Goricki Knocks Out Hassan Ndonga in Nairobi
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • USA Boxing's High Performance Squad Sets Sights on Gold at 2026 Copa America
    , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Team Sugar Rush wins Sir Jessie Villasin Chess Team 2X2 Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 May 2026
  • Paolo Gallito, 6 others in the last 16 in Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis Returns Home With Decision Win Over Nahir Albright
    , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Heartbreak in Johannesburg: Jerusalem Dethroned by Kuse in Bloody Rematch
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 17 May 2026
  • Roy Jones Jr. Blasts Dana White and Zuffa’s Push to Reshape Boxing During Explosive “Boxing Primetime Show” Interview
    , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright II
    , Sat, 16 May 2026
  • Jerusalem vs. Kuse II: High-Stakes Rematch in Johannesburg
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 16 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.