MANILA, Philippines – Once again, Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds the key, and it?s really up to him whether or not a rematch with Manny Pacquiao will take place next year.
But a Team Pacquiao insider yesterday said there is a good possibility that Mayweather and Pacquiao will do it again in 2016.
The two superstars, the source said, have welcomed the idea of rematch regardless of what they?ve said or what they?re going to say in the days ahead.
?It?s April or May,? said the source.
?All that?s needed now is another clamor from the public,? he said.
It was Mayweather himself who brought up the possibility of a rematch just two or three days after the fight. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Mayweather, who was in control of the negotiations for the recent showdown, said he?s willing to do it again with Pacquiao.
?I will fight him in a year after his surgery,? Mayweather said in a text message he sent to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.
Immediately after the fight and his unanimous decision victory, Mayweather hailed Pacquiao as a ?great competitor.?
?Manny Pacquiao is still a champion and he still has a lot left. He?s a great competitor and now I know why he?s been successful,? he said.
Pacquiao welcomed the idea of a rematch, saying what?s important right now is that he fully recovers from the injury on his right shoulder.
?Fight tayo,? said Pacquiao right after Mayweather talked of a rematch.
But Mayweather said days ago the rematch is out of the window, calling Pacquiao a ?coward? and ?sore loser.?
Mayweather said he will fight again in September, probably against Amir Khan, and then retire, presumably with a 49-0 record.
Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive in Manila tomorrow morning via Philippine Airlines, and will face questions on his injury and the possible rematch.
In Los Angeles, less than a week ago, he said there?s no talk yet of a rematch.
?Wala pa (None yet),? he said.
Based on reports, the recent fight that took five years to stage is expected to breach the five million mark in pay-per-view sales.
And if it does exceed five million buys then it will surpass Mayweather?s two highest-grossing fights against Oscar dela Hoya in 2007 (2.48 million) and Canelo Alvarez in 2013 (2.25 million).
Mayweather was guaranteed $120 million for the recent fight, and Pacquiao $80 million. But with the PPV windfall, they could earn twice as much.
After the fight, a controversy blew up regarding Pacquiao?s injury, and now the Filipino champion is facing sanctions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for not disclosing the injury.
Pacquiao is also facing damages and class-suits from disgruntled fans.
But despite the controversy, the public may still clamor for a rematch, especially those who will say that Mayweather beat a one-handed fighter.
A rematch will still be the biggest fight of 2016, and even with only half of the PPV sales of the recent one, it would still exceed two million buys.
Mayweather has a solid pay-per-view following of around 1.5 million, and with Pacquiao adding over 500,000 then a rematch could break the two million mark.
It?s all up to Mayweather.
