Recent development that saw the now 44-year-old former senator sign a fight contract with Rizin, a Japanese promotional outfit, points to that.
And because Rizin had worked twice before with Mayweather, who went undefeated in 50 fights when he retired, speculations have been going wild that a rematch of the blockbuster Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather 1 held May 2, 2015, isn’t remote a possibility.
That fight, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was the most lucrative in the history of professional boxing with the Pay-Per-View (PPV) alone breaking the revenue records in the United States with $410 million, making it the highest-grossing PPV in the history the sport.
On September 29, 2021, Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing following his loss to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August.
Pacquiao, it was reported, has agreed on a one-fight deal with Rizin, with the potential for more although fans will no doubt be hoping one of which, if not the first, will be against “Money Man” Mayweather and get the eight-division champion make one last dance away from the time they officially retired for good.
Whether the Pacquiao-Mayweather 2 will be in exhibition or real fight, Pacquiao himself betrayed his feeling when he said after signing the contract: “There is some great action. There are great fights in Rizin. The crowd’s atmosphere is amazing.”
Then the former senator added: “The contract is for one fight, but it’s not the last time [I will compete for Rizin]. It was good to have an exhibition fight last December. I’m excited and so happy.”
He was refereeing, of course, to his initial exhibition encounter against martial artist DK Yoo in Seoul, which he handily won last December.
“But this next exhibition match here is in Japan. This is different because I think probably my opponent [this time] is a professional UFC or MMA fighter, who knows how to punch and, of course, to cover up better,” the father of five with former beauty queen-wife Jinkee added.
Pacquiao said he’ll likely go up against a Rizin kickboxer as Mayweather had done twice before, winning both.
Unlike the talks on Pacquiao vs Mayweather 1 which took nearly six years, negotiations for a second serving might not last that long because of the fighters age. Pacquiao turned 44 last December 17 while Mayweather will be 46 on February 24.