Two days after Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title with a victory over Jessie Vargas, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum discussed the possibility of a rematch against Mayweather, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
“Like everyone else, I’m guessing there will be a rematch. He did come to the fight,” Arum said. “I give it 75 percent. Do I know it’s gonna happen? No. Do I know if Floyd wants the fight? No. I know nothing more than the public knows at this point and what I observed.”
Although the specifics remain up in the air, Arum’s estimate indicated he believes a deal will get done. He also added that a rematch would be easier to negotiate compared to the first time around.
“The bad words are not there,” Arum said. “If the fight does happen, it will be easier to make.”
It took years for Mayweather and Pacquiao to get into the ring together despite being two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world for more than a decade. The match eventually took place May 2, 2015, with Mayweather earning a victory by unanimous decision.
According to Cork Gaines of Business Insider, the fight generated more than $500 million in revenue while shattering previous pay-per-view records.
Mayweather competed in one more bout against Andre Berto before retiring with a 49-0 career record.
However, the 39-year-old was in attendance for Pacquiao’s fight Saturday, fueling speculation about a potential return to the ring and a possible rematch of the most notable battle of his career.
On the other hand, Robert Flores of MLB Network questioned whether there would be fan interest:
Based on the earning potential of a rematch, though, both sides will likely at least consider the bout.
