Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
After nearly half a year of negotiating and a decade of waiting, the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather rematch has been signed for September 19 in Las Vegas at The Sphere, to be broadcast by Netflix.
Pacquiao’s advisor Sean Gibbons says the rematch of the 2015 clash of welterweight titans will be “a real fight” and not a sparring exhibition. Floyd will turn 49 later this month and Pacquiao is 46. Keep in mind Bernard Hopkins was still a factor in the world class of boxing at age 50.
Gibbons also asserted Pacquiao will give the 50-0 Mayweather his first career loss.
Pacquiao boxed to a draw with recently defeated ex WBC Welterweight champion Mario Barrios in 2025.
Mayweather recently announced a $340,000,000 against his former broadcaster Showtime Network.
What the key players involved in this fight can’t say publicly, for obvious reasons is that Floyd has been forced to fight Pacquiao rematch this year because he’s near broke. Floyd, who has avoided all real fight for a decade, surely knows his skills are gone and he’s going to lose but he hopes to earn over $100m for essentially selling his 0.
It will be interesting what the odds are and if Pacquiao becomes the heavy favorite, what will the Vegas establishment do to offset the heavy losses from a Pac win? Floyd may even be forced to take a dive. He is that broke. Suing Showime for $340m revealed how desperate Floyd is. Make no mistake about it, Floyd does not want to fight Manny Pacquiao. He has been forced into it.
“It’s been 11 years since Floyd and I gave the world what is still the biggest fight in boxing history,” Pacquiao said. “The fans have waited long enough. They deserve this rematch, which will be even bigger since it will be streamed live globally on Netflix. I want Floyd to be forever haunted by the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him. As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world, and to bring glory to the Philippines.”
