In a video posted on his Facebook page last October 27, Pacquiao claimed his camp is negotiating with Mayweather for a possible rematch.
When asked about the name of his next opponent, Pacquiao said he doesn’t know yet saying his camp is negotiating with Mayweather.
“I don’t know yet who’s my opponent next, but we’re still negotiating right now about the rematch with Floyd Mayweather, so hoping for that,” Pacquiao said.
While Mayweather’s camp had earlier put a death knell to a possible rematch, Mayweather has fueled speculations in his latest remark that he could still be interested to face Pacquiao for the second time.
Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe had a very short response to the lingering questions about Mayweater’s possible rematch with Pacquiao. “Mayweather is retired, end of discussion.” he said.
Instead of a one-liner response to the nagging question about the anticipated rematch, Mayweather had plenty to say about Pacquiao’s claim that they are talking, fueling speculations that he is just trying to hype the fight to keep the fans on their toes for his final announcement.
“Once again, I dissected this fighter, the so-called ‘best fighter of our generation’. I dissected him; probably was 10 to 2, really 11 to 1, but it’s safe to say 10 to 2. ‘Mayweather is so boring, he’s this, he’s that!’ I’m boring enough to do the biggest and the best numbers in pay-per-view history,” Mayweather explained before totally killing Pacquiao’s hope for a rematch when he makes his return to the ring next April for what could very well be the final fight of his career. “It’s all bullshit. What they’re doing is this, once again, piggybacking off my name to sell pay-per-view numbers when he do go out there and fight again,” he added.
If indeed Mayweather considered himself retired, he won’t go beyond saying what his CEO had to say without even talking about pay-per-view numbers.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has come up with just three names as possible opponents of Pacquiao for his April 9 retirement fight. They include, Amir Khan, Terence Crawford and Timothy Bradley.
It appears Crawford is now the front runner after being endorsed by Bradley as Pacquiao’s next foe following his TKO win against Brandon Rios last Saturday. But a sudden announcement by Mayweather could trigger a new match configuration for Crawford and Bradley.
Khan has a slim chance of getting Arum’s nod because he isn’t a Top Rank fighter unlike Crawford and Bradley who are Pacquiao’s stable mates at Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.
