Manny Pacquiao has announced his intention to have a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, nearly a decade after their 'Fight of the Century'.
It's been more than eight years since Mayweather triumphed over Pacquiao in their highly anticipated bout, which remains the highest-selling boxing pay-per-view in history. Despite the enormous hype surrounding the fight, Mayweather secured a decisive victory, leading Pacquiao to attribute his loss to a shoulder injury.
Pacquiao surprised the boxing community by revealing his plans for a rematch with Mayweather during his appearance at RIZIN's New Year's Eve event on Sunday.
“I will see you here in Japan again, for a big fight," Pacquiao said before turning round and seemingly asking for permission to announce his opponent "Floyd Mayweather, I thought you wouldn’t want me to say that. I am excited for that. Thank you for always supporting RIZIN promotions.”
Mayweather has not responded to Pacquiao's announcement regarding their rematch, and it remains uncertain whether the fight would be officially recorded in their professional records. Both men have participated in exhibition matches since retiring from professional boxing, with Mayweather stepping away from the ring six years ago after achieving a 50-0 record, while Pacquiao concluded his career in 2021 following his defeat to Yordenis Ugas for the world title.
Pacquiao has already scheduled an exhibition fight for April, where he will face muay thai legend Buakaw Banchamek in Thailand. This event, titled the 'Match of Legends', will consist of six three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks and will adhere to boxing rules.
Mayweather took part in exhibitions this year against reality TV personality Aaron Chalmers and the grandson of notorious mob boss John Gotti. Mayweather's comical fight with Gotti III turned chaotic when a major fight erupted in the ring after the MMA fighter was disqualified for grappling and using disrespectful language.
A rematch between them was confirmed last month by Mayweather, who stated, "Kicking off Super Bowl weekend - unfinished business. See you guys in Las Vegas. More details coming soon." A date or venue is yet to be announced for the fight, but it's expected to take place on February 10 or 11.