Floyd Mayweather Jr. has indicated that his highly anticipated rematch with Manny Pacquiao is on the verge of being finalized, stating he expects it to be done “within the next 48 hours.”
The undefeated boxing legend made the announcement during a press conference at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, where he was promoting an upcoming exhibition bout against kickboxer Mike Zambidis.
The potential second clash between Mayweather and Pacquiao has been a subject of intense speculation, with the original target date of September 19 now in question. Mayweather Jr. had previously cast doubt on the bout in March, suggesting it wasn’t a professionally sanctioned fight and that a venue had not been confirmed.
Adding to the uncertainty, The Sphere, initially rumored as the location and set to broadcast live on Netflix, has advertised an Eagles concert for September 19, leaving the fight’s venue unconfirmed.
Read also: Barcelona line-up revealed for El Clasico: A lot of stars not present
“At this particular time, I truly believe that, you know, everybody is gonna want to ask questions about the Pacquiao fight,” Mayweather Jr. told reporters quoted by Boxing Social. “We have a lot of new companies, a lot of new faces, and Netflix, I truly believe that we’ll get this done.
I think we’re almost at the finish line to finish the Pacquiao fight. Eventually, I think within the next 48 hours, the Pacquiao fight should be done.”
Mayweather’s professional hiatus and financial reports
Mayweather Jr., who boasts a professional record of 50-0 with 27 KOs, has not competed in a professional boxing match since his victory over Conor McGregor in 2017. Since then, he has been active on the exhibition circuit, though a scheduled non-sanctioned fight with Mike Tyson in the Congo, Africa, in April did not materialize.
Despite his continued presence in the spotlight, multiple reports have linked Mayweather Jr.’s name to bankruptcy concerns. Addressing these reports, Mayweather Jr. remained defiant.
Read also: Tottenham's unthinkable choice: Survival hinges on rivals Arsenal
“Whether you write a good story or a bad story, you’re keeping me relevant,” he said. “When you keep a guy relevant, the money still flows in. So thank you. Negative stories always go a lot further than positive stories. A lie will always go further than the truth. My whole goal is to always stay positive, continue to work hard, and continue to push the next generation to be great, teach them the way, and show them how they should move.”
Pacquiao’s return to the ring
Manny Pacquiao, now 47 years old, famously first fought Mayweather in 2015 in a highly anticipated contest.
While Mayweather Jr. has remained in the exhibition realm, Pacquiao resumed his professional career last year.
His return saw him achieve a majority-decision draw against WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios, signaling his continued competitive spirit.
Read also: Real Madrid decide against selling Valverde and Tchouameni after training ground incident
Sources: boxing-social.com
Read also: Toto Wolff proposes new "mega-engine" for F1
