Contrary to Manny Pacquiao’s denial that there have been talks about a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather, it appears that Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum could indeed be in secret negotiations with Mayweather’s camp for the rumored rematch.
The sudden surge of news about the lingering rematch talks was fueled by Pacquiao’s reported statement during his short visit to Doha, Qatar last weekend that his camp is in talks with Mayweather for a possible rematch. This was immediately denied by Arum saying such talks have no basis as Mayweather has already retired. ?I have no idea what he?s talking about,? Arum told Yahoo Sports.. ?He said it, not me. But I have had no talks with anyone about that. None. Zero. Not one.? ?Mayweather is retired and I take him at his word,” Arum added. One indication that Arum is in secret talks with Mayweather’s camp is Amir Khan’s sudden withdrawal from a potential fight with Pacquiao. ?I?m really disappointed in Manny and his team,? Khan told The National. ?They aren?t playing ball. All that was left to do is to sign the contract. But they are stalling. ?I have pulled out of the negotiations. I am no longer fighting Manny Pacquiao.?sad Khan whose team was reportedly in talks with Pacquiao last weekend in Doha. ?I am not going to wait around for Manny like I did for Mayweather,? Khan said. ?I need to fight and if they don?t want to fight then that?s fine, I have other targets,? he added. Khan’s withdrawal from the talks is a good indicator that he is aware of the ongoing negotiations between Mayweather and Pacquiao’s camps. Pacquiao’s team could indeed by stalling in the hope that Mayweather would do a turnaround and decides to give Pacquiao a rematch. There have been talks on Mayweather’s obsession about breaking Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 career record which he has already tied following his win over Andre Berto last September. Mayweather may have thought that he can do a 50-0 in a rematch with Pacquiao. At the same time, Mayweather knows there is no other fight at this time that could generate the level of revenue that Pacquiao would bring to the table even if the proposed rematch would only hit half of what they made last May which reached over $500 million, the biggest in boxing history. While in New York to receive his “2015 Game Changer of the Year Award,” Pacquiao said he is 80-90 percent healed of his shoulder injury and will be ready to start training before the end of the year. Pacquiao has earlier announced he will seek a senate seat in the upcoming senatorial elections and is expected to file his Certificate of Candidacy when he returns to Manila this weekend.
