Despite a year defined by postponements, Floyd Mayweather still intends to return to the ring.
The boxing icon retired after his victory over Conor McGregor in 2017, hanging up the gloves with a famous 50-0 record.
In February, after years on the exhibition circuit, it was announced that ‘Money’ Mayweather would fight in the pro ranks once more, co-starring in a rematch with Manny Pacquiao eleven years on from their money-spinning first encounter.
The rematch was then postponed, many assumed indefinitely, due to legal issues on Mayweather’s side.
Speaking on The PBD Podcast, the 49-year-old American star said that his intention is to still fight ‘PacMan’, and that he will do so after an exhibition – also previously announced and postponed – with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
“December we got Mayweather-Mike Tyson exhibition, you know, that’s in December and I think Pacquiao-Mayweather will be somewhere in 2027.”
Asked explicitly if the he believes the Pacquiao rematch will actually go ahead, he said:
“Yes. You know, we already talked about it. You know, for that fight, I’ll be guaranteed 110 million.”
Finally, Mayweather provided some of his side of the story behind the fight collapsing, which happened after it was officially announced by broadcaster Netflix.
“Well, the reason why the fight hasn’t happened is because of the deals. I know you guys keep hearing, ‘Why is this fight not happening?’ So let me explain.
“There was a guy, the same guy that stole the $200 million. He was in the middle of trying to defraud numerous people, committing fraud, I should say.
“We were going to fight on Netflix, and with the deal, they tried to offer me and Pacquiao the same amount of money. So I said, ‘Okay, in the first Pacquiao fight, I was guaranteed $101 million. He was guaranteed $25 million.’
“So we come back and do the rematch, and this time they try to give both of us $27.5 million. I said, ‘Well, he loses and he gets the exact same amount as I get?’
“I said, ‘Absolutely not. Go back to the drawing board, get your numbers right, and when you’ve got your numbers right, then come talk to me.’”
Pacquiao, it seems, will not wait around due to any stalled talks or renegotiations. He has been strongly linked to a professional return on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card, though anything concrete if yet to be officially confirmed.
