Manny Pacquiao pushing for Floyd Mayweather rematch after Mario Barrios: 'He's been ducking, avoiding me'
Five years of marination had led to a commercial bonanza, as 4.6 million Americans purchased the fight on pay-per-view, and the live gate — money from ticket sales — was a staggering $72 million. The event was gigantic, but ultimately the fight in the ring was a disappointment. Mayweather used his defensive prowess to box to a comfortable decision victory over Pacquiao to unify three welterweight belts.
They say old habits die hard, and more than a decade later Pacquiao, 46, is back at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, fighting for a welterweight title against WBC champion Mario Barrios, with fresh talks of a Mayweather fight seemingly underway.
"Of course [I'd be interested]," Pacquiao told Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Wednesday about a potential second fight with Mayweather. "He's been ducking [the rematch].
"I don't want an exhibition with [Mayweather], I want a real fight."
"It's been a long time [since the first fight]," Pacquiao added. "I want to give the fans a good fight between me and [Mayweather], but he's been ducking, avoiding me."
First, Pacquiao has a stern test in front of him on Saturday in the form of Barrios.
Barrios, 30, is a champion in his prime. "El Azteca" has been overlooked by opponents before, but each time he has proved his caliber. Barrios notably earned respect from the boxing community after a competitive fight with Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2021. The welterweight champion followed that up with a loss to Keith Thurman, however he's since embarked on a three-fight win streak, including a victory over Yordenis Ugas — who sent Pacquiao into retirement in 2021.
"The reason [I'm coming back] is that boxing is still my passion," Pacquiao said about ending his four-year absence from the ring. "I still have the ability to get a belt and win a world title fight.
"The Ugas fight, I was distracted. There [were] so many distractions before the fight."
Pacquiao was supposed to square off with Errol Spence Jr. in August 2021, but Spence Jr. was forced out with a torn retina just 10 days prior the event. After training and sparring for Spence, a southpaw, Pacquiao accepted the Cuban orthodox Ugas as a late replacement and was beaten on points.
Despite having won titles in eight different weight classes and being a shoo-in for boxing's Hall of Fame, Pacquiao wasn't satisfied with his exit from the sport and wanted to return to his lifelong passion.
"Two years [after I announced my retirement, I made the decision to come back]," Pacquiao revealed. "I really missed boxing. I really missed those days [in] training camp, promoting the fight, everything like that. I was consulting my family, my wife, and it just happened that my wife [gave me her blessing]."
Pacquiao wasn't able to return to the ring straight away, though, as the Filipino boxer was still in the midst of his senate campaign. Earlier this year, however, Pacquiao finished 18th in the Philippine race for Senate, which meant he could finally shelve his political ambitions — at least temporarily — and focus on attempting to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history.
"He's taller than me, and he's a champion," Pacquiao said of Barrios. "To become a champion, it's not that easy, so at least he's proven something: That he can fight."
Pacquiao has also been linked to a boxing match with former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor in recent years. McGregor made his professional boxing debut in 2017, losing to Mayweather in the second-richest fight in boxing history, behind only Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.
"[We] almost make that [fight] happen, but there's so many problems with his manager," Pacquiao said of negotiations for a McGregor fight.
In 2020, Pacquiao signed a contract with Paradigm Sports — which represents McGregor — to organize a boxing match between the pair. However, no fight was made as McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier, and Pacquiao instead signed to fight Spence Jr. with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports have been embroiled in a legal battle since the fight fell apart — a situation Pacquiao told Uncrowned is still ongoing and makes a potential fight between himself and McGregor difficult to organize for the time being.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sparks center Cameron Brink says she's 'cleared' from ACL injury, will still ramp up before return
At long last, it looks like Cameron Brink's return is imminent. The Los Angeles Sparks center, who has missed 13 months while recovering from an ACL tear, said Saturday that she has been medically cleared and has started ramping up to a return. "I'm cleared. It's just getting reps at this point. Just getting back up to speed with everybody," Brink told reporters on Saturday ahead of L.A.'s game against the New York Liberty, via The Athletic's Ben Pickman. After months of sitting on the Sparks' injury report as "out," the second-year center was listed as "doubtful" for Saturday's game — raising some eyebrows about a potential return. Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts confirmed Saturday that Brink would not be playing, at least not yet. Despite not playing on Saturday, Brink was seen getting some shots up ahead of the game. In June 2024, Brink was carried off the court after suffering a knee injury during the Sparks' loss to the Connecticut Sun. The next day, the team confirmed that Brink had torn her ACL, and would be out for the season. "You never think it will happen to you," Brink wrote on Instagram after the injury was announced. "And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom, but I know it will only make me stronger." In addition to missing the rest of the 2024 WNBA season, Brink was also forced to the miss the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she had been named as a member of Team USA's 3x3 team. Sparks teammate Dearica Hamby joined in Brink's place, helping to lead the team to a bronze medal. Los Angeles has sorely missed Brink over the past year: The Sparks ended the 2024 season dead last with a 8-32 record. So far this season, they are 10-14, currently sitting in 10th place of 13 teams. Although L.A.'s offense has been much better this year — the Sparks currently average the third-highest points per game in the league — they have struggled on rebounds (third worst in the WNBA) and turnovers (second most).
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Judge officially placed on injured list with flexor strain
Aaron Boone spoke to reporters following another New York Yankees loss on Saturday. The news was not good. He announced the slugger Aaron Judge would be heading to the injured list with a flexor strain. The only good news was that there was no UCL tear to the injury. With the loss on Saturday, the Yankees are now 56-48, and have fallen six games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. MORE: 710 days: Chicago White Sox finally beat Chicago Cubs Judge is leading all of Major League Baseball with a .342 batting average. He also has clubbed 37 home runs and 85 runs batted in. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees make more moves before Thursday's MLB trade deadline. On Friday, the Yankees acquired Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies. More MLB News The New York Yankees acquire Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies Bryce Harper: 350 homeruns. But, who's next to pass? Kyle Schwarber makes history with fifth inning homerun against Yankees Milwaukee surges to 60 wins and National League's best record Toronto fans urged to lock in Bo Bichette before free agency Polar Bear Pete extends impressive streak in win over Cincinnati Dodgers avoid absolute disaster amid poor play MLB insider reports Guardians listening to trade offers on relievers
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Phillies continue to hammer Yankees, Edmundo Sosa says he's fine after pop-up collision with Brandon Marsh
The hard-hitting Philadelphia Phillies delivered one blow that they could have done without Saturday during their 9-4 road win over the New York Yankees. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh accidentally rammed into the back of utility man Edmundo Sosa. Marsh, playing left, was jogging forward. Sosa, playing third base, was backpedaling. They both were going for the Jazz Chisholm Jr. pop-up in shallow left field. Marsh's right elbow appeared to drill Sosa in the back as Sosa made the putout. Sosa held onto the ball long enough to secure the catch before dropping it to the ground, rolling over and grabbing at his back. Marsh, on the other hand, came out of the collision OK. Sosa was down for a couple minutes while receiving attention from trainers. He eventually walked off the field and received a hug from a remorseful Marsh. Sosa patted Marsh on the back of the head. Sosa officially left the game with a back contusion, but he told reporters postgame that he's feeling better and is good to go for Sunday's series finale. Sosa's scare was hardly the injury headliner, though. Yankees superstar right fielder Aaron Judge missed the game with what was ultimately diagnosed as a flexor strain in his right elbow. Fortunately for Judge, the two-time AL MVP isn't dealing with a UCL tear and is expected to have a short stay on the IL. The Phillies were without their starting right fielder, too. Nick Castellanos sat out with a left knee injury that he suffered Friday while running toward the right field wall to make the final out of a 12-5, series-opening win over the Yankees. Castellanos' injury doesn't appear to be serious, as Phillies manager Rob Thompson said before the game that they'll check back on the veteran's knee for Sunday. Before Sosa exited, he deposited a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. The versatile 29-year-old launched a 424-foot no-doubter to center field. The night before, he helped the Phillies polish off another decisive win over the Yankees with an RBI single that ignited a four-run ninth inning. Sosa's homer Saturday was the Phillies' second big fly of the afternoon. Bryce Harper blasted a 425-foot solo shot in the third inning. Harper's smack to right center was part of Philadelphia's climb to a 4-0 lead through four frames. Then the Phillies distanced themselves in the seventh. Following Sosa's dinger, New York committed its 10th error in the past five games, this one resulting from a Chisholm bobble on a potential inning-ending, double-play grounder. Then surging slugger Kyle Schwarber drove home two runs with a double to center field. Schwarber now has five extra-base hits — including four home runs — and 10 RBI in his last four games. The Yankees faced a 9-1 deficit, having allowed at least seven runs for the fifth time in their eight games since the All-Star break. They scattered three runs of their own in the seventh and eighth innings, two from a Giancarlo Stanton long ball, but a massive comeback wasn't in the cards. Phillies starter Ranger Suárez improved to 8-4 after allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight batters while issuing only one walk and throwing a season-high 108 pitches. But the bats were the star of the show for the Phillies, who have recorded double-digit hits three games in a row. Luckily for Sosa, the one he took to his back doesn't appear as consequential as his two-run homer in the seventh.
