Floyd Mayweather told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he would be willing to fight Manny Pacquiao again, surprising news after a dominant win Saturday night by the soon-to-retire boxer.
After the fight, it seemed like there was no use for a rematch: the win was easy for Mayweather, and the fight was universally panned as boring. Mayweather’s father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., said in a post-fight presser that there was no need for another fight between the two. But with Pacquiao’s post-fight revelation that he had a torn rotator cuff, there’s some boxing justification for having the two superstars face off fully healthy.
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However, it’s somewhat complicated: Pacquiao’s injury requires surgery that will keep him out of the ring for nine months to a year. Previously, it was believed Mayweather would retire after one last fight in September, the final bout on his enormous contract with Showtime.
If Mayweather and Pacquiao were to fight again, it would mean Floyd would have to fight again after that contract. That would open the possibility for Mayweather to finish his career 50-0, surpassing the 49-0 mark set by Rocky Marciano.
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The other justification for a rematch, of course, is the money: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was the richest fight in boxing history, with a purse of about $300 million. There would be somewhat lessened interest in a second fight after Mayweather’s comfortable win, but even if a rematch makes less money, it would still probably make a whole lot of money.
Whether the two would ever come to terms on another fight — they have a history of disagreeing — who knows.
