Manny Pacquiao says he is still open to the fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Next, despite the fact that he was held to a 12 round last Saturday night in his title challenge against the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Mayweather turns 49 in February.
Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 CO’s) could not capture the bargaining chip he needed to bring Mayweather out of his eight-year retirement. If Manny won that battle, there is an excellent chance that Mayweather would have returned to the sport for the opportunity to pick up the WBC 147-pound belt.
Fan -Reaction: Rematch Backlash
Fans on social media are against the idea that Pacquiao and Mayweather are fighting a rematch. The time for them to fight a second time would have been between 2015 and 2017. Now it would be a pathetic money grab between two old guys coming back to take advantage of the big wallets that the popular, younger fighters regularly receive. It’s not as if Floyd and Pacquiao need money. Both have major fortunes. They don’t need a second fight.
“If he comes out then Go sign the contract and we will fight. Let’s fight again if he wants to. I have no problem with that, “Manny Pacquiao said at the press conference last Saturday and a message to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sent that when he comes out of the pension, he’s ready to fight against him. ‘
It would be a joke if Mayweather came out of pension to fight Pacquiao. What is likely to hold back Floyd is that he does not want to risk his unbeaten record. He retired 50-0, and he didn’t want to tackle his record.
At the end of Mayweather’s career, he chose opponents to lose to lose. He could have fought guys like a young Errol Spence and Keith Thurman. Instead of doing so, Floyd pushed his record enough for him to break Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0.
Pacquiao will continue to fight for a while longer. It is likely that he will continue to fight as long as he can avoid losses.
Last updated on 07/23/2025
