Floyd Mayweather apparently doesn’t appreciate being associated as a potential opponent for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight. But in an Instagram post written Tuesday night in which he ripped Pacquiao and said the Filipino star owed his career legacy to Mayweather, the retired future Hall of Famer also didn’t outright deny that he could return to fight a rematch of their 2015 record-breaking matchup.
“I find it real ironic how every time Pacquiao’s name is brought up in the media, my name is always attached to it,” Mayweather wrote on his account. “This man’s entire legacy and career has been built off its association with my name and it’s about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man’s name hold weight of its own. For years, all you heard was that ‘Floyd is afraid of Manny Pacquiao.’ But what’s funny is, when we finally fought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat their words! All of the so-called boxing experts, critics and jealous American ‘fan base’ either went mute and ran for cover or made every excuse in the world as to why I should give Manny Pacquiao a rematch.”
Aside from the ridiculous notion that Pacquiao’s legacy has been built off Mayweather’s name—Pacquiao, the only eight-division titlist in boxing history, was a surefire future Hall of Famer before his name was ever associated with a Mayweather bout—Mayweather is correct that his name is still often intertwined with Pacquiao.
But that’s also partially because the 42-year-old Mayweather sat in a ringside seat as cameras filmed him last Saturday when Pacquiao beat Keith Thurman by split decision.
And Mayweather was the one to post an Instagram message last September that said he would fight Pacquiao again that was also accompanied by a video showing an altercation between the two at a nightclub in Japan.
Sure, all of that was probably fake and an attempt to keep Mayweather’s name in the news. But some people still believe the two could fight again, especially since Mayweather’s unanimous decision victory vs. Pacquiao accumulated more than $72 million at the box office gate, the highest figure ever in boxing, and compelled a record 4.6 million people to purchase the PPV event.
According to one sports book, the odds of Mayweather fighting Pacquiao next are 20/1.
Still, Mayweather (sort of) seemed to stifle the idea of a rematch (even if he didn’t actually say so).
“My take on all this bulls**t is that y’all are just upset that I broke Rocky Marciano’s [49-0] record and hate the fact that a Black, high school dropout outsmarted you all by beating all odds and retiring undefeated while maintaining all my faculties simply by making smart choices and even smarter investments,” Mayweather wrote. “Ultimately, I will always have the last laugh!”
Remember, Mayweather reportedly made $250 million for the first fight, while Pacquiao landed a career-high payday of more than $100 million. At this point, with Pacquiao’s recent in-ring success and considering Mayweather hasn’t fought a legitimate boxer in nearly four years, the 40-year-old Pacquiao perhaps wouldn’t be the underdog in the rematch.
It just depends on if Mayweather feels another nine-figure payday is worth the potential loss of his undefeated record.
Manny Pacquiao’s Response:
@FloydMayweather You come to my fight and then use my name in a post but I’m the one that is trying to stay relevant? ? if you want to be relevant again… #MayPac2
Article courtesy of Forbes Magazine
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