Manny Pacquiao has yet to name his next opponent and there are some who continue to suggest that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an option. Unfortunately, all that may remain hearsay with the undefeated American boxer preferring to face mixed martial arts fighters for a more lucrative payday.
As mentioned in a previous post, Pacquiao mentioned to a local news outlet that negotiations are still on the table for a sequel. But even with that said, there is no assurance that a sequel may happen. Now, even Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Justin Fortun is left with the impression that a Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 may not happen, the Philippine Star said.
His reason for saying so is because Mayweather may not want to risk facing Pacquiao now especially after his performance against Adrien Broner. Even at 40-years-old, the Filipino boxing sensation still has the speed and power behind the gloves, making him a dangerous adversary not only for the American boxer but other opponents as well.
“Manny looked good against Broner and maybe, Floyd’s not too keen on risking his undefeated record. That zero in Floyd’s record is important to him. To me, I don’t think it’s that important. Floyd hasn’t fought a real contender in a while. If the rematch doesn’t happen this year, it may not ever happen. If you wait until next year, they’ll be a year older. Floyd will be 43. Fans might lose interest in a rematch if they’re kept waiting too long,” Fortun said.
There are several things to consider here. One is that Broner is not exactly one of the prime fighters in the sport today. While he claims he should have won that fight or the scorecards should have been closer, the fact remains that Pacquiao has yet to face a credible fighter in the mix.
So far, Errol Spence Jr. has been mentioned as a potential opponent. Other candidates include Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. There is also Terence Crawford, perhaps the most logical foe to face to stir up some excitement.
For Mayweather, getting into the ring will take so much (money). It is perhaps the essential thing that can make him sign on the dotted line. But there is also the risk of suffering the first defeat of his boxing career, something Fortun believes is equally important.
A Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch will always be up in the air and mentioned after either fighter wraps up a fight. From the looks of it, it will stay that way unless something lucrative comes up.
