Manny Pacquiao has shared that he plans to have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, and he made this announcement at RIZN 45.
Their first fight happened in 2015, and Pacquiao didn't perform well, losing to Mayweather in a unanimous decision. The fight was a big deal for boxing fans, with 4.4 million PPVs sold. However, Manny's performance didn't meet expectations as Mayweather kept his distance and boxed from the outside.
After the fight, Pacquiao mentioned having a shoulder injury, and he had surgery afterward. Talks about a rematch had been going on for a while, and now it seems like it might happen. Considering their ages—Mayweather is 46, and Pacquiao is 45—the fight is likely to be an exhibition. During his appearance at RIZN, Manny confirmed this plan.
CEO Sakakibara: "Could you please fight against Floyd Mayweather?"
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2023
Manny Pacquiao: "I'm ready."
📡 Watch on @FITEtv !🔻https://t.co/eEpfmslhPp pic.twitter.com/gwod6x8wKm
Simply stating, "I'm ready," and adding, "I'm excited for that. Thank you," while looking at Sakakibara, it seemed like even Pacquiao wasn't entirely sure if he was allowed to share the news. Nevertheless, the fight is confirmed for 2024.
It's been nine years since their legendary 2015 bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The match generated a whopping $410 million USD in revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in history. Despite both boxers being retired and this being considered an exhibition match, fans are curious to see how they'll perform given their age and time away from the ring (though they are known to stay in shape through training). Watch the announcement in the video above.