Manny Pacquiao’s first showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a total bust. Perhaps a second fight will make up for it?
Mayweather currently is retired — or so he says — and Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5. But Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, acknowledged there being some conversations regarding a potential rematch, though it’s unclear whether Mayweather would have any interest.
Roach told the Los Angeles Times he recently crossed paths with Leslie Moonves, the chairman and chief executive of CBS. Roach supposedly told Moonves that Pacquiao wants a rematch with Mayweather, and, according to Roach, Moonves said he could make the fight happen.
Pacquiao denied reaching out to Mayweather directly, according to the Los Angeles Times, but that doesn’t mean he’s not interested in a rematch. In fact, it sounds like Pac-Man would welcome the opportunity.
“If there’s a rematch, that’d be OK,” Pacquiao said, per the Los Angeles Times. “It’s so important to show my career is not over yet, that I’m still here — my strength, my quickness, my speed. It’s still there. God gave me this gift of talent and that’s what I’m trying to show to all.”
Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president of the CBS-owned premium cable network Showtime, helped arrange Mayweather-Pacquiao I in May 2015 after years of contentious talks. Putting together a rematch probably would take some work, too, but the chatter regarding a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao II is unavoidable.
“Floyd’s been as consistent as he’s ever been. He says he enjoys retirement and promoting and won’t engage with us, even in a joking way, about coming back,” Espinoza said, per the Los Angeles Times. “So I’m not sure how to get the ball rolling in regard to getting him back in the ring, but I’m not going to give up.”
The door isn’t exactly wide open. But it’s not closed, either.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
