Manny Pacquiao has a serious challenge ahead of him in the person of WBA “Super” World Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman, but Floyd Mayweather Jr. never seems to be far from his mind. Pacquiao badly wants a rematch with Mayweather, but he is having trouble getting the retired boxing great to come back to the sport for a rematch of their May 2015 clash.
“It’s really important to have a (rematch) with Floyd,” Pacquiao said while speaking with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed. “Some fans still doubt who won the fight. I still believe I deserved to win. But like I said, I respect the judges. It’s why we want the rematch though; people have a lot of question marks in their minds.”
Pacquiao seemed to step out of character a bit as he called Mayweather out, claiming he is too scared to accept the rematch.
“I think he’s scared (to fight again),” Pacquiao said. “He keeps avoiding me, (and will keep avoiding) especially when I win this fight in July [against Thurman].
Pacquiao didn’t wholly discard all hope of a rematch. After calling Mayweather scared, he left the door open by saying, “but you never know, maybe he will come back.” Maybe he will, but as time goes on, it seems less and less likely.
I don’t believe Pacquiao won the first fight. Mayweather outboxed him most of the bout and made it a boring, but clear victory for himself. However, while Mayweather was clearly the victor, it isn’t as if the fight was so non-competitive that a rematch would make no sense?especially considering the amount of money the two men stand to make in a rematch.
The issue for Pacquiao is that while there is still a market for MayPac 2, Mayweather seems disinterested and unmotivated to come out of retirement for the fight. Truthfully speaking, Pacquiao needs the rematch more than Mayweather. From a legacy standpoint, the records show Mayweather won the first bout.
He has retired with an undefeated 50-0 record after the farcical win over Conor McGregor in 2017. It seems Mayweather isn’t hurting for money, so naturally, he isn’t as motivated to risk his perfect record or to commit himself to a serious training camp?because, at this point, he’s about four years removed from that kind of hard work and dedication to the sport. To put it plainly, Pacquiao has no leverage, and that’s why he has taken to calling Mayweather afraid.
It’s perhaps a last-ditch effort to goad him into the fight.
Good luck with that, Manny. Mayweather insists on being in control at all times. He’s not going to allow Pacquiao to create this bout on his terms. Mayweather would just as soon leave things as they are then to give up the A-side of the negotiations. If Pacquiao does upset Thurman in July, don’t expect that to motivate Mayweather to come out of retirement.
If Mayweather does give Pacquiao a rematch, it’ll be because it was in the plans from the beginning when Pac-Man signed with Premier Boxing Champions, or something happens that motivates him to climb back into the ring.
