Manny Pacquiao is “ready” for a second fight with Floyd Mayweather after a contentious draw in this weekend’s WBC world title fight against Mario Barrios.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao was making a surprising return to boxing after retiring four years ago.
He could now consider a second fight with Mayweather, who is 48 years old and retired himself. Pacquiao and Mayweather were great rivals and a decade ago boxed in Las Vegas in one of the most lucrative bouts in the sport.
“Manny is always ready,” Sean Gibbons from MP Promotions told Sky Sports.
Gibbons was adamant that Pacquiao deserved the decision against Barrios and should have been the victor. “After that performance last night,” Gibbons said, “you better check with Floyd!”
Pacquiao had come out of retirement looking to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing history and came up just short as two judges scored the fight 114-114, with one judge turning in a 115-113 score for Barrios.
The majority draw saw Barrios retain the WBC welterweight world title.
“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao said. “It was a close fight. He was very tough. I worked hard and stayed disciplined. I always keep my body in shape so that I can do this.
“I had to find a way to finish the fight better but my opponent is so tough,” he added. “He threw a lot of good combinations and had defence. It was a tough fight.”
