Superstar Manny Pacquiao revealed today that he’ll face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an exhibition rematch in 2024.
The 46-year-old retired former six-division world champion Pacquiao announced his exhibition rematch with 45-year-old Mayweather during RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event in Japan. This fight has been talked about for years now, and it appears it’s about to happen.
Most believe the Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 rematch should have taken place immediately after their 2015 fight, while the interest was still high in these two stars, but Floyd reportedly didn’t want to fight Manny again due to him revealing that he’d fought with an injured shoulder.
Pacquiao’s announcement
“I hope to see you again in Japan against Floyd Mayweather. I’m excited for that,” Manny Pacquiao announced today during a RIZIN event on New Year’s Eve.
Mayweather has done seven exhibition matches since 2018 and hasn’t confirmed that he’ll fight in a rematch with Pacquiao next. It would make sense for Floyd to do so, as the interest from fans in his exhibition matches is rumored to have dropped off sharply.
Mayweather hasn’t confirmed
Floyd hasn’t said anything to confirm the rematch with Pacquiao, so fans have to wait and see whether Manny has jumped the gun. Mayweather-Pacquiao would still likely attract a lot of interest from fans and make both of them a lot of money.
For Mayweather, it could attract interest in his future exhibition matches. Floyd isn’t hurting for money, so why he would want to continue to do exhibition matches is unclear. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mayweather Jr’s fortune is estimated at $400 million.
It’s not like Mayweather needs the dough, but of course, fighting Pacquiao, even at this late stage, will keep Floyd relevant and help him peddle his future exhibition matches against YouTubers, MMA fighters, and no-name boxers.
Mayweather-Pacquiao history
Eight years ago, Mayweather & Pacquiao fought in 2015, with Floyd winning a lackluster twelve round unanimous decision in 2015 in what some called, ‘The Fight of the Century. Both fighters were old & past it, and nowhere what they had been during their prime years.
It was an expensive affair on PPV, priced at $100 per household, and the undercard was disappointing due to the lack of compelling match-ups.
