LOS ANGELES ? Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he is willing to take on Manny Pacquiao in a rematch after the Filipino icon heals from his shoulder injury.
Mayweather made his interest known in a text message to ESPN?s Stephen A. Smith.
“I will fight him in a year after his surgery,” the undefeated American said.
Mayweather outpointed Pacquiao in boxing?s richest fight ever last Sunday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. But his unanimous decision win over the fighting congressman was somehow tainted with the fact that Pacquiao fought with an injured right shoulder.
Pacquiao hurt his right shoulder in sparring three weeks before the megabuck showdown with Mayweather. The Nevada State Athletic Commission said it only learned about Pacquiao?s injury moments before the bout.
The former WBO welterweight champion was supposed to take anti-inflammatory injections right before climbing into the ring against Mayweather. But his camp?s failure to formally declare the injury prompted the NSAC to prohibit Pacquiao from taking the shots. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Pacquiao, who after the fight said he didn?t agree with the judges? verdict, claimed the injury prevented him from throwing right hooks.
His trainer Freddie Roach said they want a second chance.
Now there?s a possibility that Pacquiao can get a second crack at the planet?s best pound-for-pound fighter.
“Pagalingin muna natin (let?s wait for my shoulder to heal),? Pacquiao told Filipino scribes on Tuesday afternoon (Wednesday morning in Manila) at his Los Angeles home.
Pacquiao said he was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and will undergo surgery this week. He is expected to sit out for at least nine months.
He added that he?s having a hard time moving his right arm because of pain, demonstrating it to scribes.
Asked if he plans to take on a tune-up fight first, Pacquiao said he prefers to plunge straight into a rematch with Mayweather.
?Pwede diretso na (if possible, I?ll rematch Mayweather immediately),? said Pacquiao.
