Manny Pacquiao has said he would fight Floyd Mayweather again if the latter comes out of retirement.
Pacquiao, 46, made an emphatic return to the ring on Saturday night, stunning the boxing world with an epic display against WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios.
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Pacquiao made his boxing return four years since his last pro fight against Barrios on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
‘Pac Man’ put on a clinical performance and looked in supreme condition as he locked horns with Barrios, who is 16 years his junior.
However, it wasn’t enough in the eyes of the judges who denied Pacquiao a place in the record books, as they rules the contest a majority draw.
That means Barrios held onto his world title, with Pacquiao now seemingly fully back in competition and ready to go again.
Many members of the boxing fraternity would love to see the Filipino boxing legend recreate his famous 2015 bout with Floyd Mayweather.
“It’s hard to talk about a fighter who [has] retired,” Pacquiao said during his post-fight press conference in Las Vegas.
“[But] if he comes out [of retirement] and signs the contract, then we will fight.
“Let’s fight again, if he wants, I have no problem with that. I’m active now…I’ll fight them all.”
Pacquiao later followed up on his comments when speaking to IFL TV.
“We’re gonna discuss it in the next couple of days on what we’re going to do,” he said on the situation regarding a fight with Mayweather.
Pacquiao and Mayweather met in the biggest commercial and revenue-generating bout in 2015, which was dubbed ‘Fight of the Century.’
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Pacquiao confirmed he’d be happy to rematch Mayweather if the latter came backCredit: Getty
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Mayweather retired after beating UFC star McGregor in 2017Credit: GETTY
The purse was reportedly a whopping $300 million for the fight, with Mayweather taking home £180m of that final amount.
Mayweather won the bout and went on to retire with an impeccable 50-0 record.
Last week, reports suggested that Mayweather’s camp believes a rematch with Pacquiao could be worth a record-breaking purse.
“Conversations are already happening,” a quote obtained by journalist Lance Pugmire read.
“If Manny wins, this rematch could be worth billions.”
Mayweather has been happily retired from the professional scene since he defeated Conor McGregor in his 50th fight in 2017.
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Pacquiao’s contest with Barrios was ruled a majority drawCredit: Getty
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Mayweather’s camp believe a rematch with Pacquiao could be worth billionsCredit: Getty
However, Pacquiao’s performance and one more lucrative pay day for the rematch would surely be enough temptation to entice ‘Money’ out of retirement.
Pacquiao himself even believed the judges got it wrong at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
“I thought I won the fight,” ‘Pac Man’ asserted after the draw.
“[It was] a close fight. My opponent was very tough [and] wonderful fighter.”
It’s unclear whether Mayweather would prefer to keep the pair’s second meeting as an exhibition or pro bout.
But regardless of the rules on the night, a rematch between both men would be huge.
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