WBA "regular" welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is not interested in having a tune-up prior to a potential rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Last weekend, the news of a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch went viral after both boxers posted a video where they having a discussion at a concert in Tokyo, Japan.
Mayweather won a twelve round unanimous decision over Pacquiao in May of 2015 - in the richest pay-per-view even in history, with record financial figures and 4.6 million purchases.
Mayweather, 41-years-old, retired from boxing back in August 2017, after stopping UFC superstar Conor McGregor in ten rounds. It was Mayweather's first fight in two years.
Mayweather has now indicated that he might have a tune-up fight before hand, after advising TMZ that he aims to have a fight in Tokyo. And TMZ states that he might even take part in two tune-ups before facing Pacquiao again.
"Before the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, I will be back in Tokyo for a huge boxing event. Stay tuned," Mayweather said.
On the other hand, Pacquiao has no need for a tune-up prior to facing Mayweather.
The Filipino star snapped a one-year layoff back in July, when he scored a seventh round stoppage over Lucas Matthysse to capture the WBA "regular" crown in Malaysia. It was Pacquiao's first stoppage win since November of 2009, and he put Matthysse down three times in the contest.
Whether it's Mayweather, or someone else, Pacquiao is ready to go and plans to fight again in December or early January.
“Why do I have to tune up?” Pacquiao said to The Inquirer. “I just came from a fight in July. It’s just going to be a small adjustment if even. I’m in tiptop shape, I just came from a big fight, I can fight anytime. If it’s against Floyd, we’ll do it in the United States. If not [Floyd], I’ll still do it in the United States. It’s been a long time."
2023-10-21 20:13:28
